Cong announces healthcare manifesto ahead of Guj polls

Ahmedabad: Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections, the state Congress on Saturday announced its healthcare manifesto titled 'Jan Arogya Sankalp Patra' that promised free treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh in government and approved private hospitals as well as free organ transplant if voted to power. All government-owned primary health centres, community health centres, referral and civil hospitals will be made "five star" like National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), as per the party's 'sankalp patra'.

The party said it would also frame a special policy to "reduce unequal birth rate of sons and daughters."

Communities will be identified with gender imbalance and a sum of Rs 3,000 per month will be transferred into the bank accounts of daughters, while assistance of Rs 30 lakh will be given to families having only daughters in old age, the Congress manifesto said.

It also promised to increase the healthcare budget of the state in order to achieve global standards in the sector.

State Congress President Jagdish Thakor said the Congress-led UPA-I and II governments at the Centre (between 2004 and 2014) gave top priority to Gujarat when it came to implementing welfare schemes.

"Gujarat was the first preference for 108 ambulance service when it was launched by the Congress-led Central government," he said. "Promises made by the Congress in the healthcare sector have been implemented in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Gujarat, too, when Congress forms government, we will fulfil these promises, which are very much possible to implement. We have set a target of winning more than 125 seats," Thakor said.

Incidentally, a few days ago, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had told reporters here that the schemes implemented by his government will be replicated in Gujarat if his party is voted to power in polls likely to be held later this year. As per the party healthcare manifesto, there would also be free kidney, liver and heart transplant procedures.

The party would open 'janata dispensary' in every village and civic wards, while remote villages will get "mobile government hospital."