Free Cataract Surgeries? Haryana Just Made It Possible for All Residents

Haryana’s Chief Minister, Nayab Saini, has announced a significant healthcare initiative, fulfilling two key promises from the BJP’s manifesto. Taking a major step toward public welfare, the Chief Minister declared that cataract surgeries will now be free of cost in all 26 government hospitals and 15 listed private hospitals across the state.

Launch of Tele-Consultation Services

Additionally, in line with the success of telemedicine services at PGIMER, Chandigarh, the Chief Minister has inaugurated tele-consultation services at PGIMS, Rohtak. Through this service, residents of Haryana can receive consultations from medical experts without any charge, further improving healthcare access across the state.

Hiring of Medical Officers

To strengthen healthcare services and meet the demand for doctors, Chief Minister Saini announced that the state would recruit 777 medical officers by December 31, 2024. This move aims to enhance the healthcare workforce and improve services in both rural and urban areas.

Enhancing Health Infrastructure in Rural Areas

To bolster the rural health infrastructure, 825 health institutions, including 718 Sub Health Centers (SHCs), 82 Primary Health Centers (PHCs), and 25 Community Health Centers (CHCs), will be set up in phases across the state. This expansion is expected to bring healthcare services closer to the rural population.

The announcements came as Chief Minister Nayab Saini presided over a review meeting for the departments of Health, AYUSH, and Medical Education & Research. Health Minister Arti Rao was also in attendance. During the meeting, the Chief Minister took action against Kurukshetra’s Aggarwal Nursing Home, ordering the cancellation of its empanelment under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme due to complaints of cash payments from patients. He emphasized that any hospital found charging patients or requesting advance payments would have its empanelment cancelled with immediate effect.

This initiative is set to provide a significant boost to Haryana’s healthcare sector, ensuring accessible, affordable, and efficient services for all residents.