World Bank to offer $121 million to Uttarakhand for health services

DEHRADUN: The World Bank will offer an aid of 121 million $to Uttarakhand government for improving health services in the state which is facing shortage of over 1500 doctors, Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi said today.

Negi said this in response to a question by BJP MLA Chandan Ramdas in the state assembly today.

Citing that 13 doctors including one specialist are needed to run a trauma centre, he admitted that the state is yet to fulfil the mentioned requirement, because of which the state's trauma centres are not fully operational.

There is a shortage of 1,500 doctors in various hospitals, community health centres (CHCs)and primary health centers (PHCs) in the state, he added.

Negi, however, said that the government is determined to provide better health services to its people and is working on several solutions.

"A scheme worth 121 million $has been approved by the World Bank to improve the health services in the state," he said.

"We have also submitted a list of 747 posts for doctors to be inducted by the state public services commission. 747 doctors would be available in 2-3 months," he asserted.

He said that a plan has been formulated to attract specialists and super specialists towards the state.