'I Would Not Tolerate Corruption In The Healthcare Service Delivery'

- Mohd Ujaley

What are your key priorities in the healthcare sector in the state?

Our first priority has been and hopefully I have succeeded, to change the image of the ministry. The ministry was known for corruption, inefficiency and lacklustre attitude. But now the ministry is known for delivering healthcare services. There has been image makeover of the ministry. Secondly, there are many areas where the health services need to be improved. Availability of the doctors, medicine, technicians are key for this improvement. However, we have shortage of 7000 MBBS doctors and 18000 paramedicals staff. Now to overcome that there we are coming out with a two prong approach – focus on human resource and technology. On the human resource side, it is about getting more doctors but that does not mean that we would recruit doctors, as the shortage is about 7000 doctors. So, the only way is to use the existing doctors and infrastructure to the optimal. It means if there is a morning OPD, there should be an evening OPD too. So that more people can get medical services.

I am also talking to Indian Medical Association (IMA) for hiring their doctors on honorarium basis. In addition, to fill this gap, we are mulling to start walk-in-interview system rather than fully depending on the Lok Seva Ayog (Public Service Commission). The Lok Seva Ayog will continue.

We are trying to fill the gaps in healthcare service delivery, using telemedicine. Very soon, we will come out with a tender to roll-out telemedicine services across the state.