Port Blair, Dec 17: In a significant stride towards enhancing emergency healthcare services, the Directorate of Health Services, A&N Administration has procured 5 State-of-the-Art Ambulances. The Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Mr. Keshav Chandra, IAS, and the Director General of Police, Mr. Devesh Chandra Srivastva, IPS flagged off the Ambulances at a brief function held at the precincts of the historic National Memorial Cellular Jail today.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Ms. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, Secretary (Health), Dr. Satyendra Singh Dursawat, IAS, the Chairperson, PBMC, Mrs. S. Selvi, the Director Health Services, Dr.(Mrs.) Suja Antony, the Director, ANIIMS, Dr.(Mrs.) Pragya Sharma, doctors of G.B. Pant Hospital/ANIIMS, para medical staff and others were present on the occasion. The induction of the 5 State-of-the-Art Ambulances in the DHS fleet of Ambulances symbolizes the commitment of the Government to prioritize the well-being and health of its citizens.
Speaking to the media persons on the sidelines of the flag off ceremony of the newly procured Ambulances, the Chief Secretary said that there are two fundamental pillars in Health Services i.e. availability of doctors and availability of medicines. If both are taken care of, then the common disease can be easily dealt with. The A&N Administration has made tremendous improvement in both these areas, the Chief Secretary said adding that apart from the South Andaman, the availability of doctors has been ensured, especially in Inter Islands too so that patients do not suffer due to lack of doctors there.
The Chief Secretary further stated that the Administration is making extra efforts to appoint specialists’ doctors in GB Pant Hospital/ANIIMS. He said that recently an interview for engaging specialists have been conducted and it is expected that the specialist doctors will join soon and render their services to the Islanders by staying for a longer duration here. The Chief Secretary expressed happiness that the specialist doctors belonging to these Islands are rendering their services effectively for the benefit of the common people. He hoped that in the coming years, the services of specialists’ doctors from these Islands will further increase and people need not to go to mainland for availing specialized treatments.
The Chief Secretary further informed that there is no shortage of medicines and it is procured timely by the Health Department. Administration is alert with regard to the purchase of medicines and ensures its proper availability to the patients without fail. He further stated that the Administration is concentrating more on ensuring availability of technicians in all the Health Institutions across the Islands. If shortage of technician is noticed at a particular place, the technician available in the nearby Health Institutions are diverted, for which, a roaster has been maintained and it is ensured that no patients suffer due to shortage of Technicians in Health Institutions. He said that Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health), Secretary (Health), Director (Health Services), Director (ANIIMS) and all Doctors & paramedics are working hard to provide better Health Services to the Islanders.
The Chief Secretary said that once the PG courses starts in ANIIMS, it will be a boon for the Islanders as they will get the services of specialized treatment in the Islands itself without going to mainland. The students who opt for PG Courses will be available to render their services in these Islands itself for the benefit of the common people.
Earlier, welcoming the chief guest and others present on the occasion, the Director, Health Services, Mrs. Suja Antony informed that Health Department has procured these Ambulances being the main source of patient referral and patient movement. This Basic Life Support Ambulances (BLS) will be deployed one each at PHC, Chouldari, PHC, Billiground, Dr. R.P. Hospital, Mayabunder, PHC, R.K.Pur, Hut Bay and G.B. Pant Hospital, Port Blair, she added.