Agartala, June 26: The Tripura government has announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening the state's healthcare system, including recruitment of doctors, expansion of hospital infrastructure and the introduction of new services.
Speaking at a press conference in Agartala on Thursday, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte said the state has already filled a significant number of medical vacancies, with 160 doctors joining service out of the 214 recently-selected candidates. The government is now moving to fill the remaining posts by recruiting additional candidates from the wait list.
According to Gitte, approval has also been secured from the Finance Department for another round of doctor recruitment.
He said the state's healthcare sector has witnessed considerable progress in recent years, particularly in reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside Tripura. Official records indicate that referrals to hospitals outside the state have dropped by nearly 80 per cent, a development attributed to improved medical facilities and specialist services within Tripura.
To tackle the shortage of radiologists at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and GBP Hospital, the Health department is preparing to launch tele-radiology services, enabling diagnostic reports to be reviewed remotely by specialists.
The Health Secretary also announced that the newly constructed Agartala Civil Hospital near Jackson Gate is ready for operation and is expected to begin functioning next month. The facility will provide services in two shifts, a model that the government is considering for selected departments at GBP Hospital and IGM Hospital to enhance patient convenience and reduce waiting times.
Highlighting ongoing infrastructure projects, Gitte said a new district hospital for Sepahijala is set to come up on nearly 14 acres of land at a cost of around Rs 46 crore. The foundation stone for the project was laid earlier in the day by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. He described the project as a landmark development, noting that it comes 15 years after the creation of Sepahijala district.
The government is also upgrading healthcare facilities at Jirania, Mohanpur and Jampuijala sub-divisional hospitals, along with Gomati District Hospital. Plans are also underway to establish a district hospital in Dharmanagar to strengthen healthcare services in North Tripura.
During the briefing, National Health Mission Director Saju Vaheed said Tripura continues to make steady progress towards eliminating tuberculosis. He highlighted several initiatives being undertaken to improve early detection, treatment outcomes and public awareness related to the disease.
Senior health officials, including Director of Health Services Dr. Debasree Debbarma and GBP Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Bidhan Goswami, were present at the press conference.