Imphal, May 16: The State Government is planning to a adopt a novel move and approach to stop doctors from leaving the State service and going to other places in search of greener pastures.

This was disclosed by Health and Family Welfare Minister Gaikhangam in his response to a question raised by Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi during the Question and Answer of the ongoing Assembly session today.

The Minister informed that in the last five years 18 Post-graduate doctors who were in State Health Services joined RIMS while 35 doctors left the Hospital.

So in order to stop the doctors from leaving the State service in search of greener pastures elsewhere, the Government is planning to adopt a new method and approach along with increasing the non-practising allowance of the doctors posted in the remote and far flung areas of the State.

In response to another question raised by Opposition MLA Dr Ng Bijoy, the Minister said the Government has been taking up efforts to modernise the only State-run JN Hospital and upgrade it to a 500-bedded hospital.

For smooth functioning of the hospital, a Hospital Management Society has been constituted and the Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs 50 lakhs for taking up necessary maintenance works from time to time.

Over and above this, the income earned by the hospital has been allowed to be utilised for its own development.

The Minister further said the JN Hospital has been accorded the status of a State referral hospital having specialist doctors, man power, equipments and other infrastructure at manageable level.

Efforts are also being made to look after other requirements of the hospital.

The Minister admitted that most of the machines required for treatment of patients in JN Hospital are not functioning.

So a sum of Rs 9 crores has been released for repairing those machines which may be repaired and made functional again and purchase new ones to replace those which cannot be repaired.

To ensure uninterrupted power supply at the hospital steps have also been taken up for providing a dedicated power line, the Minister said.

Responding to a query of Dr Khasim Ruivah, Gaikhangam pointed out that there is a problem in which the Government employees, whether they are from the hills or the valley do not want to be posted in the hill areas.

As to lack of adequate manpower at Somdal Primary Health Centre, the Minister assured that the matter would be taken care of. To solve the problem of inadequate ambulances in the PHCs, a sum of Rs 15 lakh each would be provided for hiring private vehicles, the Minister assured.

To a question put up by Independent MLA S Kunjeshore (Keba), the Minister informed the House that there is no plan for upgradation of the PHC at Khumbong to CHC.

There is no sign board for the Primary Health Centre at Wabagai Tera Urak, the Minister said replying to another question asked by CPI MLA Usham Deben.

Replying to the questions raised by MLA Doukhomang Khongsai, Rural Development Minister Md Hellauddin said out of the eight inter-village roads to be construction at Saikhul Assembly Constituency under phase I, II and VI of PMGSY, the task of setting up of five IVRs have been completed for the phase I.However, formation of IVRs under phase-II is yet to be taken up.

In his reply to a query of Ruling MLA N Mangi Singh, Gaikhangam, who is also in charge of Horticulture said the Department had taken up works related to Horticulture Technology Mission, Land Development and NWDPRA in Bishnupur district during 2006-07 at an estimated cost of Rs 60,18,800.

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