MP Prioritises Recruitment of Doctors in Remote Areas, Plans Stronger Cancer Care Support
BHOAP/Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla has directed the Health and Medical Education Department to accord top priority to the recruitment of doctors and specialist physicians in underserved and remote regions to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to the last mile.
Chairing a review meeting at the state secretariat, Shukla has assessed the progress of key health sector initiatives, infrastructure development projects and human resource requirements. The meeting reviewed issues related to recruitment of medical and specialist personnel, construction of nursing colleges, maintenance of hospitals, manpower requirements for the cancer hospital in Sagar, laboratory strengthening and the availability of healthcare staff across institutions.
Shukla emphasised that improving healthcare access in tribal, remote and underserved areas remains a key priority of the state government. He said that along with doctors, adequate availability of nursing and paramedical staff is essential for strengthening healthcare delivery and directed officials to undertake concrete measures to address manpower gaps.
The Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed cases related to organ transplantation under the PM CARES initiative and discussed reimbursement of additional expenditure incurred by patients. He directed officials to put in place the necessary provisions to ensure timely assistance to needy patients.
In a significant move aimed at easing the financial burden on cancer patients, Shukla instructed the department to prepare a proposal for including cancer treatment packages under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at the earliest. The proposal is expected to improve access to quality treatment and enhance financial support for patients battling the disease.
Shukla further stressed the need to make the departmental transfer process transparent, simple and sensitive. He directed officials to ensure that tribal and remote areas continue to have adequate availability of doctors while giving priority during transfers to compassionate cases involving serious illness, spouse postings, dependents with disabilities, widows and abandoned women.
Additional Chief Secretary for Public Health and Medical Education Ashok Barnwal, Commissioner Dhanraju S and other senior departmental officials attended the meeting.
