Namchi, 5th June: Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang laid the foundation stone of 300 bedded District Hospital at Singithang Ground, today. He was accompained by Minister for Health Department Dr. M.K. Sharma, Minister for Buildings and Housing Department Sanjeet Kharel, Political Secretary to CM Jacob Khaling, Confidential Secretary to HCM Shri Bikash Basnett and other Officials alongwith Councillors of Namchi Municipal Council.
The Chief Minister extended his congratulations to the people of the state for this upcoming healthcare infrastructure. He also
spoke about the importance of this 300 bedded hospital and underlined that building of this hospital is extremely necessary in order to aid the people of Sikkim particularly in these times of COVID-19 pandemic. The State Government aims to build a robust public healthcare system in Sikkim wherein expert doctors and other specialists is available to treat the public. The Chief Minister highlighted that only by constructing a state of art infrastructure is not enough, it should have easy availability of efficient health care givers and also effortlessly be accessible to public at large. Furthermore, he said that the State Government will adequately provide the best healthcare as the well being of the Sikkimese population is at the centre of the State Government’s policy. He also said that an alternate land for Singithang playground in Boomtar has been sought after by the State Government for the same.
With regards to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Minister informed that every resources available in the state are being utilized to upgrade the existing health care centres. He also informed that the COVID-19 testing is being accelerated both in rural as well as urban areas, and with the increase of COVID-19 testing, the number of positive patients will also go up, and these positive patients are being treated by the health care professionals. As for COVID-19 vaccination, he updated that Sikkim has regularly administered vaccination to 45+ individuals and added that vaccination is crucial to manage and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chief Minister said that the vaccination for 18+ will also resume at the earliest. He also updated that 18+ vaccination will start from rural areas health care centre and said that an oxygen plant will soon be installed at Rangpo. The Chief Minister also said that Mobile Village Clinic will commence soon and emphasized that the State Government has given ambulances especially at rural areas in order to transfer COVID positive patients. The Chief Minister also earnestly solicited cooperation from the public in defeating COVID-19.
Principal Chief Engineer cum Secretary Buildings and Housings Department Rajen Sharma gave a brief note about the construction of 300 bedded District Hospital at Namchi which is being build in an estimated cost of Rs. 561.26 crores. The work has been awarded to the Government Contracter on turnkey basis duly entrusting for Conceptualization, Drawings, Design and Construction work along with Medical Equipments entitled for District Hospital as per Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) norms. Sharma said that the completion time for the project is for three years and the proposed building is a eight storied with parking facility and other amenities.