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

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

The World Bank will offer $121 million to Uttarakhand to improve health services in the state, which is facing shortage of doctors, Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi said on Tuesday.

Negi said this in response to a question by Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly Chandan Ramdas in the state Assembly.

Citing that 13 doctors, including one specialist, are needed to run a trauma centre, he said the state has not yet fulfilled 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 said.

Negi, however, said 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 the next two to three months," he said.

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