Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday said that the government is committed to the overall improvement of the quality of health services in Tripura and is working with the aim of establishing a health hub. 

He also informed that the initiative has been started for appointing more doctors in hospitals.

Dr Saha said this at a programme organized on the occasion of National Doctors' Day at Pragya Bhavan in Agartala.

At the program, Dr Saha, who is also the Health Minister, extended his greetings to all the doctors on the occasion of National Doctors' Day. He said that doctors have to work under a lot of pressure and with a human touch.

“Doctors need to be respected. There is a sense of mental stress due to the disproportionate ratio of patients to doctors. The common people should also understand this. Today, on National Doctors' Day, we remember the renowned doctor Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy. He was the second Chief Minister of West Bengal. He was born on this day in 1882 and died on this day in 1962. Therefore, his birthday and death anniversary are celebrated as National Doctors' Day across the country,” said Dr Saha.

The Chief Minister said that various facilities are being expanded for the welfare of patients.

“Nine super-specialty services have been started at a cost of about Rs 250 crore. Work is being carried out at Agartala Government Dental College with an allocation of about Rs 202 crore under the PM-DevINE Project. Financial resources have been made available in this year's budget to open a 100-bed state-of-the-art eye hospital adjacent to ILS. Currently, state’s doctors who are outside the state also want to come back. Therefore, the government has taken the initiative to bring them back with respect,” he said.

The Chief Minister further said that the government is working with special emphasis to make Tripura drug-free.

“A modern drug de-addiction center is being set up in Bishramganj with an allocation of about Rs 122 crore from the DoNER Ministry. In addition, initiatives have been taken to set up a drug de-addiction center in each district at a cost of Rs 20 crore. So far, about Rs 17 crore has been spent to provide health services to the people under the Chief Minister's Jan Arogya Yojana. About Rs 239 crore has been given under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana,” he said.

He informed that the third kidney transplant took place yesterday, and both the patient and the donor are doing well.

“Discussions are underway with Mohan Foundation for liver transplant. Besides, talks are also being held for bone marrow transplant as well,” he added.

Additional Secretary of the Health Department Rajib Dutta, Director of Health Dr. Tapan Majumder, Director of the Family Welfare and Disease Prevention Department Dr. Anjan Das, Director of Medical Education Dr. H. P. Sharma, Principal of AGMC Dr. Anup Saha, Principal of Tripura Medical College Dr. Arindam Dutta, Principal of Dental College Dr. Shalu Roy, and other eminent doctors were present as distinguished guests at the event.