Centre to provide all help for health services to Char Dham pilgrims: Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Dehradun: Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who is on a 2-day visit to Uttarakhand, assured adequate health services to all the Char Dham pilgrims, saying that the state government has done appropriate health planning for the visitors. He said this while inspecting a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Jakhan area of Dehradun on Thursday.

Incidentally, nearly 300 pilgrims had died during the yatra last year due to cardiac arrest and other health-related issues.

Mandaviya further said, "For the upcoming Char Dham yatra, the central government will provide all possible support to Uttarakhand. Health ministry will ensure that none of the pilgrims faces any health-related difficulties during the yatra."

The minister said that "the best cardiac, pulmonary and ortho facilities for pilgrims are being set up as part of the Uttarakhand health department's preparations." So far, nearly six lakh pilgrims have registered on Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) app for the yatra since the start of the process on February 21.

All the pilgrims are mandated to provide health details so that the state health authorities can revamp their health infrastructure accordingly and carry out provisioning for medicines and other facilities. The pilgrims can update their health credentials on the app.

Mandaviya also said tha Jan Aushadhi kendras will continue to provide low-cost medicines to the needy. He later headed to Malari in Chamoli on a chopper, where he held meetings with the stakeholders of the Vibrant Village Scheme. He also took stock of the wellness centres and the Covid vaccination status of the residents of border villages.