Himachal to introduce free Heli-Ambulance services in remote, tribal areas

The Himachal Pradesh government today decided to introduce free Heli-ambulance services for timely air lifting of patients, particularly in remote and tribal regions of the state, an official statement said.

The services will be operated by Heli-mission, Switzerland, with the assistance of Lady Willingdon Hospital, Manali in Kullu District, it said.

In a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, the setting up of a 'Health care transformation project - TATA Digital Nerves Centre Platform (DiNC)' in Kullu district, was also approved.

The DiNC is a service led platform model to facilitate to and fro communication between patients, hospitals and doctors irrespective of their geographical locations. It helps in screening basic symptoms, facilitates doctor consultations and sends alerts for follow-up and manages records of the patients.

The Cabinet also gave its nod to fill up 1,235 posts of Transport Multi-Purpose Assistants (TMPA) in Himachal Road Transport Corporation, 200 posts of clerks and 25 posts of junior scale stenographer in Himachal Pradesh Secretariat Administration Department (SAD) on contractual basis.

The Cabinet decided to fill 25 posts of Assistant Engineer (Civil) and two posts of Assistant Engineer (Electrical) and 100 posts of Junior Engineer (Civil) and 20 posts of Junior Engineer (Mechanical) in Public Works Department on contract basis.

Cabinet gave its nod to fill two posts of consultant and two post of data entry operator under State Medicinal Plants Board in Ayurveda Department.

The cabinet approvedthe upgradation of Civil Hospital, Nurpur in Kangra district to a 200-bed hospital along-with the creation of additional 42 posts of different categories, the statement said.

The Cabinet accorded approval to open new State of Art Industrial Training Institute at Chhatari in Tehsil Thunag of Mandi district. The Cabinet also approved purchase 26 new ambulances under National Ambulance Service-108 as replacement to facilitate the patients, the statement said.