Chief minister Raghubar Das inaugurated a new hospital exclusively for beneficiaries of the Centre’s flagship health insurance scheme for the poor on Tuesday, courtesy Tata Steel.
Essentially an extension of Tata Main Hospital in Bistupur, the new premises is in Golmuri within Tinplate township, behind the existing Tinplate Hospital.
“It is a day of happiness with the city getting the country’s first hospital dedicated for the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Prasham Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY),” said Das after inaugurating the 30-bed Tata Steel managed hospital offering 24x7 orthopaedic, general surgery, paediatric and critical care facilities.
“We plan to cover 85 per cent of the state’s population under the ambitious health insurance scheme, benefiting 57 lakh families. As of now, we have issued 25 lakh golden cards which enables one to avail benefits under the scheme,” the chief minister said, adding that the state government would henceforth issue free golden cards and not charge Rs 30 as was the norm.
Das said the state government would launch a special drive across the state to issue free golden cards from August 16 to September 23 to mark the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
So far, he added, 219 government hospitals and 429 private hospitals had been empanelled under the health insurance scheme. “More than 2 lakh patients have benefited from the scheme in Jharkhand,” the chief minister said.
Das said talks were on with Tata Motors to empanel Tata Motors Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
“I have had several meetings with the Tata Steel management. I am thankful they have decided to dedicate a hospital entirely for the scheme. Soon Tata Motors Hospital in Telco township will also be empanelled under the scheme,” he said.
The chief minister went on to highlight some of the initiatives of the state government in health. “We have already launched 329 ambulances that can be called for by dialling 108. We have also started bike ambulances for inaccessible areas in hilly terrains where conventional ambulances cannot reach,” he said.
Das also announced mohalla clinics for those residing in urban slums. “Free primary health care will be provided at mohalla clinics. A special drive will be undertaken between August 16 and September 23 when doctors will be available for two hours each in the morning and evening at all civic bodies,” he said.
Community halls in Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai municipality would be used to run mohalla clinics.
The chief minister said that efforts were on to revive the Baharagora trauma centre that could be of immense help to commuters using NH-33 and NH-6 in case of accidents.
“Doctors will be recruited soon for the Baharagora trauma centre. Recruitments will also be done at the district level,” he said.
Earlier, the chief minister presented a cheque of Rs 1 crore to Kamal Club representatives of districts to organise sports events at the panchayat level. He also distributed golden cards to patients who were admitted to TMH-Golmuri on Tuesday. Two doctors who joined the district were also given appointment letters.
Among the others who were present at the function were MLAs Kunal Sarangi (Baharagora), Meneka Sardar (Potka), Lakshman Tuddu (Ghatshila) and Tata Steel vice-president corporate services Chanakya Choudhary.
The chief minister left for Ranchi at around 12.50 pm.
