Bengal is number one in healthcare : Mamata

Kolkata, Sep 8: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has informed that Bengal is number one in the country in providing health services. Referring to the recent incidents of child deaths, she said, “ If children die due to lack of oxygen, don’t you think it’s a crime? A government must have a comprehensive plan to ensure better health services to people. ” She further said, “ More than 400 people have died because of swine flu in the past four to five months in Gujarat. ” She said, “ One may say that charity begins at home when these issues are raised. I would like to say in this connection that a series of steps were taken to provide better health services to the people of Bengal. During the erstwhile government, the rate of institutional delivery in the state was 63 per cent and now it has gone up to 93 per cent. At the same time, 16 mother and child hubs have been set up and there are special arrangements for treatment of children. ” She informed that free treatment in provided to people in state-run hospitals. In addition to that, 200 fair price shops have been set up across the state. She further said that out of 9.10 crore people, around 55.5 lakh people have been brought under the Sasthya Sathi scheme. The scheme provides health insurance to the people who are brought under it. She said that the socio-economic parameter of a place is an important indicator that shows the condition of the residents living in it. So the state government always tries to ensure proper health services, education, food and shelter to its citizen. The Chief Minister further said that people from Bangladesh, Bihar, Odisha and even from North-East come for treatment in the state-run hospitals, adding, “ Pollution and tension-free environment is needed for people to be healthy. So we need an environment-friendly country. ” She also mentioned that the state government has paid Rs 1.79 lakh crore of the debt that was left behind by the erstwhile Left Front government and yet has been able to ensure better healthcare facilities in Bengal. UNI