Governing Body of Rogi Kalyan Samiti (RKS), Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, Shimla approved estimated budget expenditure of Rs. 1738 lacs for the financial year 2013-14 in its Annual meeting held under the chairmanship of Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh Thakur at IGMC, Shimla today. A provision of Rs. 190 lacs has been kept for diagnostic facilities, Rs. 236 lacs for procurement of medicines and Rs. 110 lacs for providing free surgical items to the patients in the estimated budget.

Kaul Singh Thakur said that fresh tenders would be invited to re-open ‘Jan Aushdhi Shop’ at IGMC to ensure availability of quality generic medicines at affordable prices to the patients. He said that RKS would open its own medicines shop in IGMC for providing medicines and surgical items to government schemes beneficiaries such as Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, Cancer Fund, Poor Patient Welfare Fund, Chief Minister Relief Fund, MSSY and School Health Programme on credit basis on the demand/ requisition from Senior Medical Superintendent. He said that a departmental technical committee from each department of IGMC would be constituted to recommend the desired implants and medicines to be made available in this shop.

Health Minister said that facility of free CT Scan and MRI to the accidental, unattended and poor patients would be provided in the IGMC adding that free medical facilities including diagnostic procedure to all students of IGMC including those of Sister Nivedita Government Nursing College Shimla would also be provided. He said that the case for revision of contractual salary of various functional posts of different categories of staff filled up through RKS would be sent to the State Government.

Kaul Singh Thakur said that data entry operators (DEO) including three DEOs working at KNH hired through National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology would be now brought under RKS in IGMC and they would be given Rs. 6500 per month earlier they were paid Rs. 4500 per month. He said that Rs. 5.50 crore grant in aid would be given to the RKS by the State Government during this year and meeting of Governing Body of RKS in IGMC would be held twice a year.

Heath Minister said that it had been decided that the Civil Supplies Corporation would pay the monthly rent at two percent of total turnover of all three shops in IGMC campus and if the Corporation fails to do the same then fresh tenders for these medicine shops would be invited within three months. He said that CCTV cameras would also be installed in the IGMC campus by second week of August.

Kaul Singh Thakur said that it was endeavour of the State Government to further improve the health services being provided in the State adding that budget allocation for health sector had been increased by 22.6 percent in the current fiscal year which was a record increase. He said that due to the endeavours of the State Government, the Government of India had agreed to bring the IGMC under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) under which Rs. 150 crore would be made available for developing necessary infrastructure in the IGMC.

He said that super speciality services at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Medical College (RPMC) Tanda would be made available by first week of October, 2013 and matter of starting super speciality courses at IGMC had been taken up with Medical Council of India besides the intake capacity for MBBS seats at IGMC and Dr. RPMC, Tanda would also be increased. He said that emergency services at any health institutions were considered as mirror of the institution and efforts should be made to provide quality and quick services. He directed the IGMC administration to ensure that referred patients from different hospitals in the State should be attended by senior doctors. Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA, Shimla Constituency also spoke on the occasion.

Ali Raza Rizvi, Principal Secretary, Health also gave his valuable suggestions in the meeting. Dr. Ramesh Chand, senior Superintendent IGMC conducted the proceedings. K.K. Sharma, Joint Director, IGMC, Dr. S.S. Kaushal, Principal, IGMC, K.R. Negi, Chief Executive Officer, RKS, IGMC, senior officers of the State Government, officials and non official members of Governing Body of RKS also gave their suggestions.