GUWAHATI, March 14 � Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said a comprehensive health policy is on the anvil encompassing all health-related aspects and a holistic approach will be adopted for making Assam a healthy state, reports PTI.
At a function here, Gogoi said his government has been laying emphasis on the health sector and initiated a slew of schemes to improve the health scenario during the past 14 years.
Stating that the government�s focus was on the poor and weaker sections of society, he said, �The affluent can avail the best medical care and treatment. Our aim is to reach out to the poor and weaker sections of society.�
�We can keep many diseases at bay through cleanliness and hygiene. Our focus is on providing pure drinking water and sanitation facilities. Only by ensuring a healthy body, can one lead to economic prosperity and we have initiated a host of schemes for this,� he said.
�There has been a reduction in the infant mortality and maternal mortality rates, but we still have miles to go on this front,� the Chief Minister said.
State Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Nazrul Islam said the government was according top priority to the health sector and there was a marked improvement in the transportation of patients with the 108 and 102 ambulance services.
�By availing the 108 and 102 ambulance services, patients can be easily transported from one hospital to the other, saving many a life,� he said.
The minister further said the focus was on reducing the infant mortality and maternal mortality rates and bringing them at par with the national average.
�Though both rates have come down from 66 to 54 and from 480 to 300 per thousand live births, we have to put in concerted efforts to bring them at par with the national average,� he said.
