Dr Bindal said that the endeavour of the state government was to ensure better health facilities at the doorsteps of the people. Many innovative programmes had been launched in the state to attain this objective. State government had launched 'Atal Swasthya Sewa', under which free ambulance was being provided within 35 minutes to all patients in emergency and serious illnesses. He said that in the last one year, one lakh patients had availed its benefit, out of them 19000 were expectant mothers. He said that under 'Matri Sewa Yojna' launched last year free institutional delivery was being done in all government hospitals. Medicines were being provided free to them during hospitalization besides free transport facility for going back home.

The 'Mother and Child Tracking Scheme' was also being implemented in the state, under which each pregnancy case was being registered. Health workers were keeping contact information including mobile number of the expected mother. This would also help in checking female foeticide.

Health Minister said that HMIS was an integral computerised clinical information system for improved hospital administration and patient care. He said that HMIS would also provide an accurate, electronically stored medical record of the patients and this record will be utilised for statistical requirements and research purpose. HMIS would be implemented in six districts namely Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Solan, Mandi, Kangra and Una before 31 March, 2012 and other 6 districts would be covered in 2012-13. A state data centre will be established where data of all the hospitals would be integrated and made available online. He said that System Study had been completed for 15 hospitals and requirement study would be completed in rest of the targeted hospitals before March, 2012. HMIS was implemented on pilot basis in DDU hospital, Shimla last year under which 9 modules like registration etc. were developed. He said that HMIS would help in storing all data of the patient in the software specially designed for this purpose, which will be made available on internet. Patients will be provided identification numbers, which would facilitate them in getting treatment in any hospital of the state. Himachal Pradesh was one of the few states in the country to start online data entry in the year 2010-11.

Health Minister said that Mobile Based reporting of HMIS data would be implemented in six districts. School Health Programme Data Set would also be integrated with HMIS application to track the students covered under the programme.

Dr. Bindal said that this workshop would help in introducing innovative technology in health sector thereby qualitatively improving the health services in the state. Participants from 10 countries Philippines, Norway, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Tazhakhistan, Zimbabwe etc. along with 10 Indian states were participating in this workshop, he added.

Shri Rakesh Kanwar, Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission detailed various health schemes being implemented in the State. Prof Sundeep Sahay from HISP India welcomed the Health Minister and others.