CG govt decides to widen scope of Chief Minister Urban Slum Health Scheme, Scheme will be launched in all cities by February 21

Raipur: Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has given a big gift to the urban population living in slums on this Republic Day. Chhattisgarh government has decided to widen the scope of Chief Minister Urban Slum Health Scheme to provide relief to urban population living in slums. 

Now the slum dwellers in urban areas will no longer have to struggle for getting treatment in hospital or getting their screening test done to diagnose disease. A mobile medical unit with a doctor will be stationed in these urban slums in which facility of free-of-cost 42 types of screening tests and medicines will be made available. It has been announced to start “Chief Minister Urban Slum Health Scheme” in all 169 urban bodies. The scheme was being implemented successfully in all the 14 municipal corporations of the state from November 1, 2020. 

Keeping in view the benefits of this scheme, the Chief Minister has decided to implement the same in all the cities of the state. This decision will prove to be even more effective in view of the corona epidemic, because people will no longer have to go to the hospital to visit a doctor.

The scheme will be proven beneficial for people belonging to the weaker section of society. Every poor and needy person wants that when he falls ill, he does not have to wander for his treatment. People avoid shutting their businesses and waiting in queues to meet doctor for minor ailments. The Chief Minister Urban Slum Health Scheme started in Chhattisgarh, keeping in view the needs of the people and for their convenience, is now fulfilling these objectives and goals.

Currently, the implementation of the scheme is being done under the chairmanship of the District Collector concerned through 60 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) in 14 urban bodies of the state. After the announcement of the Chief Minister, an additional 60 MMUs will be included under this scheme taking the total tally of MMUs to 120. In this way, the scheme will be operated through 120 MMUs in 169 urban bodies of the state. A target has been set to start the scheme in other selected cities by February 21, 2022.

As per data received from the department, over 20 thousand 928 health camps have been organized under the scheme so far through mobile medical units. About 14 lakh 64 thousand 195 patients have become healthy after getting their treatment in these camps. A qualified MBBS doctor is appointed in these MMUs. A total of 42 types of medical tests are done free of cost in MMU’s laboratory. Over 2 lakh 75 thousand 388 patients have benefited from the free laboratory so far. A total of 285 types of medicines are available for free distribution in MMU. Over 12 lakh 19 thousand 523 patients have been benefited through free medicine distribution so far. Medicines are being given to the patients by the pharmacist on the basis of the doctor’s prescription.

Under the Chief Minister’s Urban Slum Health Scheme, the entire process of examination of patients in MMU has been computerized including the work of registration of patients and prescription of doctors. Audits are conducted by senior specialist doctors to avoid any mistake in the procedure and ensure maximum benefit to the patients.

With the expansion of this scheme, about 2 thousand 880 camps will be organized every month through 120 MMUs in 169 cities of the state. Besides, quality treatment of about 1 lakh 80 thousand patients will be possible. The process of selection of service providers has already been completed by the government in all the districts and work has also been started to develop hospital-like facilities for setting up MMUs in buses. Along with this, preparations for arrangements like camp planning, duty roster of doctors and staff, medicine distribution are in progress.