Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that health services in Assam are now at par with major states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. He made the remarks while inaugurating the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital in Kalapahar, Guwahati, and laying the foundation stone for several health projects. Amit Shah said the BJP government has worked with a clear vision to strengthen health and medical education.
Expansion in health and medical education
Amit Shah said that it is necessary to expand the medical education infrastructure in the country so that Indian doctors can serve patients not only in the country but also globally. He said that with the expansion of hospitals and medical institutions, patients from Assam and the entire Northeast will no longer need to travel to far-flung states for treatment. During the event, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for health projects worth Rs 2,092 crore, including the Pragjyotishpur Medical College and Hospital, and the Saraswatidevi Shivkishan Damani Academic Block, built at a cost of Rs 675 crore.
Improving maternal and cancer care
Citing the Atal Swasthya Bima Yojana and the Assam government’s state-level health insurance scheme, Amit Shah said that today, about 85% of people in Assam do not spend up to Rs 5 lakh on treatment. He also mentioned improvements in maternal health services, saying that while previously about 70% of deliveries took place at home, now, thanks to the improved network of hospitals, PHCs, CHCs, and ambulances, about 98% are taking place in hospitals. He said that the previous Congress government neglected the health sector and misappropriated funds worth lakhs of rupees through corruption.
Health budget and targeting Congress
Amit Shah said that the BJP government has made Assam’s health and medical education system self-reliant in just ten years. He said that during the Congress regime, the annual health budget was around ₹150 crore, while under the BJP government, this budget has now reached nearly ₹9,000 crore. He also targeted Rahul Gandhi, saying that the opposition is now protesting not only against Prime Minister Modi and the BJP, but also against the country.
