Agartala: The Government of Tripura is contemplating roping in specialist doctors from different parts of the country to strengthen the telemedicine services, Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha has said.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of eight new projects at Tripura Medical College and Dr BR Ambedkar Teaching Hospital on Wednesday.
“I have come across a lot of people who have lost their entire savings in some kind of critical illness. For medical complications that could be easily cured here, patients prefer going outside the state and end up spending their whole savings. When the money is over, they come to GBP hospital.
I have instructed the health secretary to find a solution to this. The best possible medical treatment should be made available here,” Dr Saha pointed out.
Shedding light on the telemedicine services, Dr Saha said, “We shall approach all the best doctors in their field. They would be called on video conferencing and the consulting doctor in the presence of the patient here will explain the medical condition and what treatment is so far. I know that 90 percent of the time, our doctors will be found right. This service, if it continues as planned, will serve two purposes; our doctors will acquire knowledge from the best in their field and the patients don’t need to spend on traveling, accommodation, etc.”
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the need for infrastructure development emphasizing the importance of maintenance of government assets. To protect government assets from getting wasted, he said, a new policy has been adopted.
“In the budget, we have earmarked 10 percent of funds for protection, and maintenance of the existing infrastructure. A government infrastructure is not a mere building. It provides services, and employment and becomes a center for a host of other fruitful activities. We can’t let the existing infrastructure get wasted which is why this new policy has been adopted,” Dr Saha has said.
The projects that were inaugurated on Wednesday included a new ICU complex in the new OPD building, a cabin with modern facilities and an open terrace with gardening, 30 bedded high-end dialysis unit, a new OT for the ENT department, NPCB (national program for control of blindness) in Ophthalmology department, Retina surgery facility in Ophthalmology department, and skill lab of Tripura college of nursing community lab of Tripura college of nursing.
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