*Makes treatment through Ayushman Card mandatory for private hospitals*
*Brings 4% reservation for medal winner state athletes in state govt. jobs*
*Fulfils promise of upgrading Nainisaini Aerodrome in Pithoragarh, 42-seater plane to provide air service*
The Uttarakhand Tribune Correspondent
Dehradun: Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister (CM) Pushkar Singh Dhami led government has shown strictness towards private hospitals, who were dodging off from providing free treatment to people through Ayushman Bharat scheme that provides ‘Ayushman Card’ which offers free medical treatment of upto 5 lakh/annum to everyone.
Based on CM Dhami’s instructions, state health minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat said that if private hospitals want to run in Uttarakhand then they will have to provide free treatment through Ayushman Card to every single cardholder of Uttarakhand (general public). He informed that a meeting had been held regarding the same with the managers of all private hospitals; & further orders will be released by the state medical & health department.
CM Dhami govt. took action on this issue after it came to be known that many private hospitals in Uttarakhand are not providing free treatment through Ayushman card. Taking note of the problem, Dhami govt. took immediate action & has made it mandatory for all private hospitals to provide free treatment through Ayushman Card. Till date, Ayushman cards of a total of 4.87 lakh government employees have been made of which 1.15 lakh employees got themselves treated for various diseases including chronic diseases at a cost of 349 crore. The employees benefitted from cashless transaction in OPDs.
Dhami govt. has also decided to take care of state’s athletes by introducing 4% reservation in state govt. jobs for them. This will encourage youth to pursue various sports & compete at national level while representing Uttarakhand. The state government will soon provide government jobs to players who have won medals at national & international level. Jobs will be given to them across various departments, an order for which will be released soon. This will also help in stopping migration from hilly areas.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami’s promise & continuous efforts to upgrade Nainisaini Aerodrome in Pithoragarh have finally borne fruit. Licence of Nainisaini Aerodrome has been upgraded to 2C category to provide public transport service. This means that now a 42-seater aircraft will provide air service here, thus improving air connectivity of Pithoragarh. CM Dhami thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji & Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindhia for approving this service.
It should be known that Uttarakhand which is of strategic importance, was selected for air connectivity & Pithoragarh district was shortlisted for UDAN scheme to provide air-transport service between Dehradun & Pithoragarh in 2018. Till now, only a small 9-seater aircraft could be operated but now a 42-seater aircraft will be operated. This service will be operated between Dehradun, Pantnagar & Pithoragarh. It will provide relief to the people of the later 2 places. This service will play an important role during medical emergency & during natural disaster.
