A whopping Rs.140 crore will be spent for ramping up the health infrastructure at Silchar Medical College and Hospital. 

This was disclosed by Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma while inaugurating a 40-bedded ICU and 40-bedded COVID Ward here on Saturday. 

Speaking at a function at SMC&H auditorium, Dr.Sarma said that it was a red letter day for SMC&H that a new ICU and a COVID Care Ward have been opened together with laying of the foundation stone of six projects that included a 500 bedded Emergency Hospital at a cost of Rs.96.05 crore and infrastructure for increasing the number of MBBS seats from 100 to 150 at a cost of Rs.45.86 crore.

Dr.Sarma said together with new state-of-the-art infrastructure coming up and those added to SMC&H, a level 2 Cancer Hospital is being built at an estimated cost of Rs.133 crore. The Minister revealed that besides the Cancer Hospital, another 15 cancer hospitals are coming up in different districts of the state within two years. “The new Cancer Hospitals coming up will be run by a professional set up that includes TATA Trust, Government of Assam and Assam Care Foundation. 

The Minister said once the 500-bedded Emergency Hospital is completed, a major renovation of the old buildings of SMC&H will be undertaken and that this will be converted into super speciality hospital. 

Dr.Sarma also disclosed that the 100-year-old  District Civil Hospital which is in a dilapidated condition would be dismantled and in its place, a 300-bedded hospital will come up involving around 40 to 50 crore. The Minister pointed out that the new civil hospital would be made an annexe hospital of SMC&H. “Converting the civil hospital into an annexe hospital would help to decongest the SMC&H as PG students would have to render their services at the civil hospital,” Dr.Sarma said, adding that the foundation stone would be laid sometime either in November or December. 

Making an impassioned plea to the people of Cachar district, especially elderly to undergo Rapid Antigen Test, Dr.Sarma said, “The 59 deaths would not have happened if the elderly and aged have come forward to the hospital on time for treatment. Those having COVID like symptoms like fever, cough and cold, diarrhoea must report to the hospital for early treatment. I assure you that we will send them back home healthy,” quipped Dr.Sarma.