Agartala, Aug 16, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Aug 16: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday sought central government’s support for setting up Critical Care Block in every district hospital of the state.

Besides, he also urged the Centre to increase fund allocation under Fifteenth Finance Commission for constructing building of Sub Health Centres.

Dr. Manik Saha placed the demands during a virtual meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

The Chief Minister along with Health secretary Debashis Basu and State Immunization Officer Dr. Mousumi Sarkar among other officials were present in the virtual meeting.

According to the Chief Minister, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Covid vaccination drive and future plans for health infrastructure development up to block level were discussed in the meeting.

Taking part in the discussion, the Chief Minister apprised the Union Health Minister of various schemes being implemented in the state for the welfare of public health.

He said, as per the SEC list, 95 percent of the families were already brought under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. He also discussed to cover the remaining 5 percent families—Antodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries—under the scheme.

Along with Dr. Saha, the Health ministers and officials of many other states joined the virtual meeting.

The Union Health Minister in a tweet mentioned that ‘there was a meaningful discussion to accelerate the campaign of strengthening health infrastructure at the block level and speeding up the precaution dose coverage under Covid Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav.

According to a PIB press release, Mandaviya said, the central government has been working in the spirit of cooperative and collaborative federalism with States and UTs for creating, expanding and strengthening a multi-tier health infrastructure network across the country.

In the virtual meeting, he reviewed the implementation of flagship schemes including National Health Mission (NHM), various projects under Emergency COVID Response Package (ECRP)-II, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), 15th Finance Commission (XV FC) grants.

He also reviewed the progress of national COVID19 vaccination campaign with specific focus on precaution dose under COVID Vaccination Amrit Mahotsav.

Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare was also present in the meeting. This was part of a series of meetings chaired by the Health Minister to review progress and expedite utilisation of central funds to states under various schemes and packages for upgradation and strengthening of critical care infrastructure across the states.