*CS Smt Radha Raturi gave instructions to complete the construction projects of medical colleges with a holistic approach*

*Instructions to maintain adequate number of doctors, nursing staff and other staff in the medical colleges and hospitals being built in the hilly districts like the plain districts of the state*

*Pithoragarh Medical College will not only provide health services to district Pithoragarh but a large part of the population of district Champawat, Bageshwar and Almora as well .*

Chief Secretary Smt Radha Raturi instructed the Health Department, Finance Department and Personnel Department to simultaneously complete the process of creation of posts of doctors, nursing officers, paramedical and auxiliary staff along with the construction of medical colleges and hospitals in the state. She said that in this way the medical colleges under construction will be able to start functioning on time. The Chief Secretary has given instructions to the Finance Department to immediately clarify the situation related to the posts of 216 doctors in Haridwar Medical College and 216 doctors in Pithoragarh Medical College. She instructed the concerned officials to complete the projects of construction of medical colleges with a holistic approach.

Keeping in mind the better possibilities of medical tourism, CS Smt Raturi has given instructions to organize a meeting with the Tourism Department regarding Pithoragarh Medical College and TB Sanatorium located at Bhowali, Nainital.

Under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi, a meeting was held in the Vidhan Sabha Bhawan regarding the decreasing number of posts in the Government Medical College, Pithoragarh in relation to Government Medical College, Haridwar.
In view of strengthening the health services in the hilly areas of the state, Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi has directed to maintain adequate number of doctors, nursing staff and other staff in the medical colleges and hospitals being built in the hilly districts just like in the plain districts of the state. Instructions were given to Health, Finance and Personnel Department. The Chief Secretary said that Pithoragarh Medical College will provide health services not only to Pithoragarh district but also to a large part of the population of Champawat district and Bageshwar and Almora districts. Besides, the possibility of neighboring country Nepal also availing the health services here will increase. After the commencement of operation of Pithoragarh Medical College, the possibilities of medical, health and other related facilities, development of enterprises and new opportunities for self-employment in its surrounding areas will also increase.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the Health Department to run a special campaign to reduce maternal mortality rate in Haridwar district. She also directed to create a tracking system to follow up the health of pregnant mothers and newborns, conduct mandatory antenatal checkup (ANC) of all pregnant women, and provide institutional delivery to all pregnant women . The Chief Secretary also directed to conduct a special orientation program for Asha workers in high risk areas in view of maternal mortality rate. She has given instructions to also include maternal mortality rate in the evaluation of the work of Asha workers.

Secretary Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, Shri V. Shanmugam and officials of Health, Finance, Personnel and Justice Department were present in the meeting.