Enhancing access to essential medical services in Tripura
AGARTALA: Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha Thursday announced the establishment of Arogya Mandirs throughout the state to enhance access to essential medical services. So far, 1,110 Arogya Mandirs have been operationalised alongside a push for improved medical infrastructure within district and referral hospitals.
At the inauguration of a new polyclinic in Arundhatinagar, Agartala and five Urban Arogya Mandirs, the Chief Minister highlighted the significant investments the state is making in health infrastructure.
The newly opened urban polyclinic in AD Nagar with a construction cost of Rs 2.10 crore reflects this commitment. Dr Saha noted a notable decrease in the need for patient referrals outside the state, citing a drop from 555 referrals in 2023 to 161 in 2026.
This shift indicates a growing capacity to provide adequate treatment locally reducing patient dependency on outside facilities.
The Chief Minister acknowledged the vital role of satellite health centers in hilly regions and recognized the contributions of doctors, health workers, and ASHA workers in rural healthcare delivery. The implementation of telemedicine and the e-Sanjivani system have significantly improved treatment accessibility.
To bolster this further, a state-of-the-art telemedicine studio is planned for GBP Hospital.
Dr Saha outlined the development of an Integrated Health Medical System (IHMS) to enhance medical management in the state. Initiatives aimed at establishing the region as a tourism health hub are underway aiming to strengthen both the tourism and health sectors.
Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharya, Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation and MLA Dipak Majumdar, State Director of National Health Mission Saju Wahid A, District Magistrate of West Tripura district Dr Vishal Kumar, Director of Health Department Dr Debashree Debbarma and were in attendance.