CM Yogi stresses tech-driven quality in healthcare growth

Lucknow, May 27 : While reviewing the Health and Medical Education Department on Tuesday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath clearly stated that the benefits of improved health services should directly reach the common man. He directed that the quality of treatment, diagnostics, medicines, and emergency services in government hospitals should continuously improve. Additionally, medical colleges, nursing institutions, and super-specialty services should be strengthened with modern technology, improved human resources, and effective management.

Chief Minister stated that the objective of medical education is not merely to expand institutions, but to provide the state with trained doctors, specialists, and quality health workers. He directed the promotion of modern equipment, expert faculty, and research activities in medical institutions. 

Chief Minister stated that the Ayushman Yojana is becoming a major support for poor and needy families. He directed that claims be settled within the stipulated timeframe. The meeting was informed that 6,480 hospitals in the state are affiliated with the scheme, and over 96.75 lakh free treatments have been provided so far.

Chief Minister directed the inclusion of AYUSH systems in the Deendayal Upadhyaya State Employees Cashless Medical Scheme, appropriate adjustments to health workers providing services during the COVID period on a priority basis, ensuring that payments to ASHA workers remain pending under any circumstances, expanding Health ATM services, and making the communicable disease control campaign more effective. Chief Minister Yogi also stressed the need to strengthen institutional and safe delivery systems to further reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.

The Chief Minister was informed that over 15.28 crore Aabha IDs have been created under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Over 15.14 crore electronic health records have been linked in the state. The scope of the Hospital Information System and Lab Information System is also being rapidly expanded.

Emphasizing the promotion of medical research and innovation, Yogi urged medical institutions to integrate research-based health services. The meeting was informed that work is underway on the ‘UP-IMRAS’ digital initiative, multidisciplinary research unit, clinical trial unit, and medtech programs. Letters of intent have been filed to invest approximately ₹1,500 crore in medical research and medtech.

The Chief Minister directed that all projects under construction be expedited and completed within the stipulated timeframe, ensuring that the public can benefit from improved healthcare facilities. The meeting also reviewed important inaugurations and foundation stone laying projects planned for the coming months. These include the multi-story girls’ hostel at Gorakhpur Medical College, the 110-bed trauma center at Ayodhya Medical College, the B.Sc. Nursing College at Saharanpur Medical College, and the expansion of the Psychiatry Department and the de-addiction ward block at Kanpur Medical College. The meeting was informed that the process of establishing medical colleges under the public-private partnership model is also progressing rapidly. Medical colleges are operational in Maharajganj, Shamli, and Sambhal, while the process is ongoing in several other districts.

The meeting was informed that the response time of the 108 ambulance service and Advanced Life Support ambulances has steadily improved. Currently, 375 ALS ambulances are operational, and 9.38 lakh patients have been referred so far. The Chief Minister directed further reduction of ambulance response times, stating that every minute is crucial in emergencies. He also called for ensuring timely payment to ambulance operators.

Yogi issued strict instructions regarding the quality of medicines in hospitals. He stated that medicines with an expiry date of less than three months should not be available in hospitals and that new medicines should be provided in their place. The meeting was informed that dialysis services are available in 75 districts and CT scan services in 74 districts. By March 2026, more than 35.69 lakh dialysis sessions and more than 45.35 lakh CT scans have been performed. Tele-radiology services are operational at 227 CHCs.

The meeting was briefed on the achievements of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. It was reported that the institute has performed more than 376 robotic surgeries and over 250 kidney transplants. The state’s first Gamma Knife Center is also being established here.

It was also informed that approval has been given for the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital with a capacity of 1010 beds in the new campus of Lohia Institute. Work on the 500-bed Advanced Pediatric Centre project is in progress at SGPGI.

Presentations were also given in the meeting on the action plans of Uttar Pradesh State Cancer Mission, UP Trauma and Emergency Network (UPTEN), Project Sushruta and CARE-UP Mission. It was informed that under UPTEN, an emergency trauma network will be developed in the state, while under the CARE-UP Mission, ICU and HDU services are being expanded in medical colleges and district hospitals.

Chief Minister emphasized the need to make the TB eradication campaign a mass movement and directed the involvement of schools, colleges, and voluntary organizations. It was revealed at the meeting that Uttar Pradesh has been honored by the Government of India for its outstanding performance in the 100-day TB-free India campaign. 

Chief Minister said that the honorarium of contract MBBS doctors should be increased so that better doctors join government services. He said that technology, accountability, and sensitivity should be reflected together in health services, only then will public trust be strengthened.