Agartala, 27 October (H.S.): Tripura Chief

Minister Manik Saha on Tuesday stressed the need to strengthen primary

healthcare and decentralise medical services to ensure that people receive

quality treatment closer to their homes, as he outlined the state government's

plans to expand health infrastructure and improve access to specialised care.

Addressing a

programme marking the bhumi pujan and inauguration of various projects

at Narsingarh, Saha said primary health centres (PHCs) were central to the

state's healthcare system and should be equipped with the necessary facilities

to provide reliable services and build public trust. He said a 10-bed hospital

was set to start operations at Narsingarh.

The chief

minister said the government was working to ensure that healthcare services

reached the last mile, with a focus on strengthening facilities at the village

level and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for

treatment. He said the government would seek land in villages to establish

modern healthcare facilities.

Saha said

Tripura had made progress in healthcare delivery, claiming that referral cases

had declined by around 80 per cent. The state currently has 128 primary health

centres and 22 community health centres, he said, emphasising the need to

ensure consistent standards of service across PHCs.

The chief

minister also highlighted the expansion of medical education in the state. He

said a homeopathic medical college had started functioning and that the

government planned to establish an Ayurvedic medical college at Matabari. He

also referred to the establishment of a dental college, with academic

activities targeted for the 2026-27 session.

Referring to

the state's ambitions in medical education, Saha said institutions should

strive to improve their rankings and performance. He cited the example of

Agartala Government Medical College, which he said had improved its standing

over time, and stressed the importance of scientific approaches to resolving

healthcare challenges.

He also

referred to the expansion of outpatient department services and cardiac care

facilities, including initiatives in Dhalai district. The government, he said,

was pursuing projects to strengthen maternal and child healthcare with external

assistance, including support through the Asian Development Bank.

Saha further

announced plans for a 100-bed eye care hospital, aimed at expanding access to

specialised ophthalmic treatment within the state. He said the Integrated

Health Management System had been introduced and would be implemented across

hospitals to improve healthcare administration and service delivery.

The chief

minister said teleconsultation services had also been introduced to improve

access to medical advice, particularly for people living in remote areas. He

cited the Mukhyamantri Nirogya Aayog initiative, under which around 3.60 lakh

people had been screened across the state.

Saha said the

government would continue to focus on improving the quality of healthcare

through better infrastructure, medical education, screening programmes and

accessible services. He stressed that development of the health sector must be

measured by the quality of treatment available to ordinary people, especially

those living far from major hospitals.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhijit Deb