Kumar Bahukhandi
Raipur: Chhattisgarh has taken another historic step toward realising the Indian ethos of life encapsulated in the mantra, “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah…” (May all be happy; may all be free from illness). Today, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inaugurated the ‘Atal Arogya Lab’ at the state level at the Sukma District Hospital.
This initiative is poised to lay the foundation for a new revolution in the state’s healthcare sector, specifically by providing modern and accessible diagnostic facilities to citizens residing in remote and forest-covered regions.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sai affirmed that the state government is firmly committed to ensuring that excellent, affordable, and timely healthcare services reach every citizen of the state. He stated that, through the Atal Arogya Lab, free diagnostic facilities will now be available across 1,046 health institutions in the state—ranging from district hospitals to primary health centers—thereby directly benefiting millions of citizens.
Through this state-of-the-art digital system, patients will be provided with 133 different types of diagnostic tests completely free of cost. Test reports will be delivered directly to patients via SMS and WhatsApp, eliminating the need for them to make repeated visits to the hospital and thereby accelerating the treatment process.
This system will not only save time but also render healthcare services more transparent and accessible. Chief Minister Sai emphasised that the state’s diagnostic infrastructure is being further strengthened. This will enable the rapid and accurate detection of various diseases—including through blood tests—thereby facilitating timely treatment and leading to a significant improvement in patient recovery rates, Sai affirmed.
He further added that expanding such modern facilities, particularly in remote regions like Bastar, remains a top priority for the state government, ensuring that local citizens do not have to rely on major cities to access better medical care.
The Atal Arogya Lab will serve as a robust foundation in achieving this objective. It is noteworthy that the Sukma District Hospital already offers a range of facilities, including a blood bank, sonography, X-ray services, ECG, emergency services, C-section delivery facilities, a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC), and dialysis services.
With the addition of the Atal Arogya Lab, the healthcare services here will become even more robust and comprehensive, the CM remarked.
Present on this occasion were Health Minister Shyambihari Jaiswal, Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap, Women’s Commission Member Deepika Sori, Commissioner Doman Singh, and IG Sundarraj P., along with other administrative officials and dignitaries.
