Centre proposes 'Mobile Air Dispensary' for remote areas in North-East

New Delhi [India], Oct. 24 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region MoS PMO, Jitendra Singh on Monday proposed a "Mobile Air Dispensary" service for remote and far-flung areas of North east. The service would envisage a mobile dispensary in a helicopter with a doctor, necessary equipment and medicines that can fly to remote and far-flung on regular basis and also, as and when required. Singh said that particularly in areas from where patients find it difficult to reach a dispensary, a doctor with dispensary can reach them. The same experiment, which would possibly be the first of its kind in the country, can also be replicated in other hill States and remote areas having poor connectivity like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh etc, he added. On the first day of his two-day visit to Manipur, Singh appreciated Governor Najma Heptulla for having endorsed this idea by citing the example of "Royal Flying Service of Australia", popularly known as "Flying Doctors", which is meant to provide aid and primary health care service in rural and remote areas. He said this idea has already been discussed with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and MoS Jayant Sinha has indicated the inclination to work out its feasibility. Meanwhile, he said, he has also held negotiations with the management of some of the leading helicopter companies in the country. Singh disclosed that soon, the officers of DoNER Ministry, North Eastern Council and the Government of Manipur will also sit with the officials of Union Ministry of Health to work out the modalities. (ANI)