Assam is committed to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and make healthcare affordable. Hence, the Chief Minister’s Free Diagnostics Services, a PPP model with HLL Lifecare Ltd was introduced. Till date over 2 million patients have availed free services, including high end investigations like CT scan, says J V N Subramanyam, IAS, Mission Director, NHM, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Assam, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
Q How would you describe Assam’s healthcare delivery system in terms of quality, accessibility and affordability?
With about 3.4 crore population, Assam is poised in a unique context both demographically and topographically and is the largest State with 68.4% population of the country’s northeastern region. There are about 26 Scheduled Tribes and 22 Scheduled Castes. One must look at Assam’s healthcare delivery system in this context. In context of accessibility, quality of services and affordability, we need to look at various factors:
Accessibility: Difficult geographical terrain with hard to reach riverine/ Char areas, tea garden areas, hilly and forest areas spread across the State are the major accessibility issues for healthcare delivery system in the State.
a) Tea garden areas: About 20% of Assam’s population belongs to the tea growing communities. They are one of the most backward and exploited communities in Assam. Many studies revealed that Assam is facing a very high Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) among the districts with the high tea garden population, the MMR is very high. As per survey conducted by Regional Resource Centre for North Eastern States (RRC-NE), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, only 428 (57%) tea gardens have functional hospital out of total 758 tea gardens surveyed. Similarly, only 324 (49.9%) have Medical Officer (Allopathic) out of total 649 tea garden hospitals and another 47(7%) running with Visiting Medical Officer. The study revealed poor status of health infrastructure, availability of doctor, nurses and paramedics and healthcare services in the tea garden areas. Proper implementation of Plantation Labour Act, 1951 in the large number of tea gardens in the state remains a challenge.
Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av eHEALTH.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra February 2019-utgaven av eHEALTH.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Preventing The Spread Of Coronavirus From Contaminated Medical Devices
Highly contagious novel Coronavirus first reported in China’s Wuhan city has sent shockwaves worldwide with scientists working on vaccines to contain the virus.
Patients' Privacy & Data Threat In Digital Era
With healthcare service providers leveraging various digital tools, connected devices, and automated processes to bolster patient care, data privacy and security have emerged as major threat nowadays. As large amount of data is exchanged at various levels especially in form of EHR, and other clinical information, personal data of patients remain at stake which needs to be preserved from prying eyes of cyber attackers. Mukul Kumar Mishra of Elets news Network (ENN) explores various facets of data security, associated challenges and possible way out.
TeleHealth—Powerful Tool to Achieve Universal Healthcare & Holistic Wellness
Telehealth has emerged as a viable tool for healthcare providers to improve accessibility, provide remote care, and helping governments in achieving Universal Healthcare, writes Vikram Thaploo, CEO – TeleHealth, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Limited, for Elets News Network (ENN).
‘Personalized Attention is at Core of Our Patient Care Philosophy'
Continental Hospitals is a NABH-JCI accredited multi-speciality quaternary care hospital with a capacity of 750 beds. With the state-of-the-art facilities, advanced medical equipment combined with the latest technology, the hospital ensures utmost comfort and safety to patients, says Dr Rahul Medakkar, CEO, Continental Hospitals, in conversation with Mukul Kumar Mishra of Elets news Network (ENN).
‘Enabling Hospitals to Unleash Full Potential of Caregiving'
DayToDay is a care management company that provides platform to clinicians to extend their reach beyond hospital walls and deliver world-class care to patients in the comfort of their homes, says Prem Sharma, CEO & Founder, DayToDay, in conversation with Gopi Krishna Arora and Mukul Kumar Mishra of Elets News Network (ENN).
Future & Importance of Clinical Analytics
Clinical analytics is poised to become an essential tool that makes use of real-time medical data to generate insights, take decisions, predict outcomes, and decrease costs by enabling early interventions for potential clinical complications, writes Abdullah Saleem, Group, CIO, Omni Hospitals for Elets News Network (ENN).
Role of Emerging Technology in Building Smart Hospitals
In the wake of huge patients’ expectations pertaining to quick service, less waiting time and hassle free comprehensive experience, smart hospitals hold a huge significance today. With cutting-edge technologies like AI and ML, these hospitals are automating and optimizing various processes to ensure best care to masses, writes Dr Mervin Leo, COO, Aware Gleneagles Global Hospitals, L B Nagar, Hyderabad for Elets News Network (ENN).
AIIMS — Adopting Several Reforms to Bring Quantum Leap in Patient Care
All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi, one of the premier medical institutes across country, has come of age delivering accessible and quality services to masses. With new OPD block, several reforms, and optimizing various processes, and the Institute is set to transform delivery of healthcare services, says Subhsish Panda, Deputy Director, AIIMS, in conversation with Nisha Samant & Mukul Kumar Mishra of Elets news Network (ENN).
‘1.5 lakh Sub Centres to be Converted into Wellness Centres by 2022'
Health is the biggest wealth one could ever have. Human health is priceless.
‘Accountablity, Management & Strategy Key to Bolster Patient Care'
Accountability and work management coupled with robust strategy can do away major issues affecting the delivery of healthcare in Uttar Pradesh, said Atul Garg, Minister of State, Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Mother and Child Welfare,