Guwahati: The Assam Government on Wednesday laid renewed emphasis on strengthening food safety and improving the delivery of public health services, with Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Ashok Singhal directing officials to tighten enforcement and enhance coordination across key health departments during a high-level review meeting at Janata Bhawan.
Chairing the meeting, the Minister assessed the performance of the Assam State AIDS Control Society, Assam State Blood Transfusion Council, Food Safety Department, Drug Control Administration, and the Birth and Death Registration system. The review covered the implementation of ongoing schemes, quality of public services, operational challenges, and future priorities aimed at improving healthcare delivery across the state.
Highlighting food safety as a key area of concern, Singhal instructed the Food Safety Department to step up inspections of markets, hotels, restaurants, food processing units, and other food business establishments. He also called for increased collection and scientific testing of food samples to ensure strict compliance with the Food Safety Act and prevent the sale of unsafe food products.
The Minister stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and better coordination among all wings of the Health Department to ensure that government services reach citizens efficiently and without delay.
The meeting also reviewed the functioning of the Drug Control Administration, where discussions focused on strengthening regulatory oversight and improving monitoring of medicines across the state. Officials further deliberated on measures to enhance the quality of blood transfusion services and improve the efficiency of the Birth and Death Registration system.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Assam’s healthcare infrastructure, Singhal urged all departments to work in a coordinated manner and maintain high standards of public service to ensure safe, accessible, and quality healthcare for every citizen.
