Asansol Municipal Corporation (AMC) has received approval to establish 93 health and wellness centres within its jurisdiction. Land has already been identified for 61 of these proposed centres.
A high-level meeting was held in Asansol, attended by Biswajeet Bhattacharya, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Asansol Sadar; Dr Sheikh Mohammed Yunous, chief medical officer of health (CMOH) for Paschim Bardhaman; officials from various departments; and representatives from AMC.
SDM Bhattacharya stated that the meeting focused on identifying suitable land for the remaining 32 centres. So far, 38 health and wellness centres have been constructed, of which seven are operational. Construction is ongoing at 23 sites.
According to state health department guidelines, one health and wellness centre is to be established per 15,000 people. These centres will offer not only primary healthcare services but also twelve categories of health facilities, including telemedicine.
Each of the 93 centres will be staffed with a doctor and a nurse. However, due to a legal issue, doctors cannot currently be appointed at 31 completed centres.
To cater to the population spread across AMC’s 106 wards, 93 centres have been approved by the state government. AMC officials stated that each centre will cost approximately Rs 35 lakh to set up. Basic pathological and blood tests will also be available at these facilities.
Mayor Bidhan Upadhyay and chairman Amar Nath Chatterjee expressed optimism that all outstanding issues would be resolved soon, enabling the formal inauguration of the centres following the appointment of new medical personnel.
Incidentally, Aditi Chaudhury, recently took charge as commissioner of Asansol Municipal Corporation, replacing Raju Mishra, who has been transferred to the department of commerce and industry as secretary.