Health Minister assures solving VSSIMSAR issues in three months

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Sambalpur, July 12: State Health Minister Nabakishore Das Thursday assured that most of the problems plaguing the prestigious Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VSSIMSAR) here will be solved with in three months.

Das, also a resident of this city said during a visit to the Institute that measures are being taken on a war footing to resolve the issues.

“Most of the problems of the institute will be solved within three months on war footing basis. At the same time, 236 acres of land will be permanently transferred in its favour,” the minister assured.

Das held discussions with officers of all ranks and file who placed a number of suggestions before him to make it more useful for the people as those with only poor financial background come here for treatment since that can’t afford to the costly nursing homes in or outside the state.

The minister accompanied by the secretary of the department Dr. Pramod Meherda and many others from the state capital and also the local officers including collector Suvam Saxena spent hours together to know the reality.

He further said that if the Director placed any proposal for more autonomy, including financial and administrative, the state government would certainly consider those.

The Minister began the process for appointment of 23 contractual doctors. He informed that the Associate Professors working working will be promoted to the post of Professors and the Assistant Professors will be promoted to the post of Associate Professors through DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee).

“This process would be completed by July 30,” he added.

The minister assured that he will visit the institute every four months to review of the progress both in medical and college sides. “The government is also considering converting VSSIMSAR to a medical university,” he informed.

Talking about the shortage of doctors in State, the Health Minister said that it is a worldwide problem at present.

 “But 1100 new doctors from Govt Medical Colleges and 500 from private ones every year would solve the problem soon in Odisha,” he informed.

The minister asked the VSSIMSAR authorities to utilize all sophisticated machines here properly so that the poor patients would not be exploited. He also said that the ventilators returned from here would be reinstalled soon.