Garhwal Post Bureau
New Delhi, 15 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today met Union Health Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Chief Minister sought the Centre’s support for expansion of the air ambulance service presently operated by AIIMS Rishikesh and further sought allocation of an additional helicopter exclusively for emergency response in inaccessible hill regions of the state.
Reminding Nadda of the challenges faced by residents in remote districts, Dhami urged the Union Minister to raise the central contribution under the Ayushman Bharat scheme from Rs 1,052 to Rs 1,500 per SECC beneficiary family.
The CM also expressed gratitude for the AIIMS specialists who are assisting in organisation of the Char Dham Yatra and appreciated the integration of travel duty into the residency programme (DRP) for postgraduate medical students.
On this occasion, the CM apprised the Union Minister of ongoing construction works for two new medical institutions, Jagjivan Ram Medical College in Pithoragarh and Pt Ram Sumer Shukla Medical College in Rudrapur, which are being developed expeditiously. He shared that both the colleges are projected to begin academic operations from the 2026–27 session, with applications set to be submitted to the National Medical Commission and the Government of India. Requesting timely approvals, Dhami also sought swift permission of the Centre for Tehri Medical College, currently under development with support from THDC.
The CM further made an earnest appeal for immediate central assistance in setting up a state-of-the-art trauma centre at Srinagar Medical College. Stressing its vital role, he observed that such a facility would not only provide critical care to local residents but also serve as a life-saving unit for pilgrims and tourists travelling through the Char Dham circuit and adjacent mountainous zones.
The Union Health Minister reportedly assured the CM of comprehensive support from the Centre towards strengthening Uttarakhand’s healthcare infrastructure.
