Centre to extend full support to boost Assam's health sector: JP Nadda

After laying the foundation stone of new building of Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory at Six Mile, Guwahati the Union minister said that, Assam is the first state to have a Drug Testing Laboratory of this strength.

“The laboratory will go a long way in strengthening the health sector and health care system in Assam and North-Eastern Region. Steps have been taken to upgrade it to international standard," he remarked.

"India has earned immense name in pharmaceutical industry for the quality of medicine and the Central Government will leave no stone unturned to maintain this reputation,” JP Nadda said.

The Union Minister informed that the pre-project report for establishment AIIMS in Assam has been prepared and the construction of the AIIMS building will begin shortly.

Assam Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said that this is a proud moment for the North-Eastern region.

"The Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory will be recognised as the biggest in the Country. The pharmaceutical sector will play a key role in Act East Policy. Immense potential has grown in the pharmaceutical drugs export in the countries like Thailand, Myanmar, and Bhutan etc. The pharmaceutical companies have come forward to establish pharmaceutical industries in Assam and the North-East. Inspired by the idea of “Make in India”, the State Government is emphasising on ‘Make in Assam’,” the Assam Health minister said.

He further said that the Central Public Works Department will complete the construction of the Laboratory within 18 months. Stating about the budget allocation of Rs. 800 crore.

“The Central Government has sanctioned 4 new Medical Colleges in the State to be set up in Nagaon, Dhubri, North Lakhimpur and Diphu. The process will begin in the month of January, 2017. The Union Government has allocated an amount of Rs. 120 crore to upgrade Gawahati Medical College Hospital and Dibrugarh Medical College as Super-speciality Hospital. The Central Government has enhanced the annual allocation of fund to National Health Mission (NHM) form Rs. 1000 crore to Rs. 1700 crore,” Sarma said.

“Every year in Assam 1000 new cancer patients get enrolled. Hence from the month of October, the State Government would begin the full-fledged functioning of the Cancer Hospital at GMCH,” the Assam minister said.

Later in the day, the Union Health Minister in presence of the State’s Health and Family Welfare Minister inaugurated Amrit Pharmacy at Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) campus.

Inaugurating Amrit Pharmacy, the Union Minister informed that GMCH is the first hospital in the State where Amrit Pharmacy is opened.

“The initiative is a result of the MoU signed between the Government and HLL, a PSU under the Central Government. It aims at providing the patient affordable medicines and reliable implants for treatments. With the introduction of Amrit, 3.40 lakh people will be covered and the patients can purchase medicines at 60% to 90% discount rates. Patients can avail an average discount of 65%,” the Union Minister said.

He further added that shortly 6 more Amrit Pharmacies will be opened in 6 Medical Colleges of the State and in 27 district hospitals. He further stated that so far 14 outlets of Amrit were there in India.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)