Jharkhand to launch dedicated OPD for transgender community
Ranchi: The Jharkhand health department has directed all medical colleges, district hospitals and other health institutions to set up dedicated OPD services for the transgender community, an official said on Saturday.
As part of the initiative, all doctors, nurses, and staff in hospitals will be given special training on sensitivity and professional behaviour towards transgender people, he added.
In a statement, Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the "historic decision" was taken to grant the transgender community respect and equal healthcare rights, news agency PTI reported.
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“Special OPD (Outpatient Department) services for transgender persons are being started in all government medical colleges, district hospitals, and health institutions of the state, where they will receive test, consultation, and treatment in a respectful manner without any discrimination,” Ansari said in a statement.
The health department is also implementing the ‘Samman Swastha Seva’, under which special medical services and psychological support will be provided, keeping in mind the specific needs of the transgender community, he added.
Ansari said, “Every individual deserves respect and dignity. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that the transgender community gets an equal place in the mainstream, and I am personally committed to this.”
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari visited the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and announced that he will continue visiting district hospitals and personally attending OPDs every week. The Minister made the announcement while examining patients personally and reviewing on-ground medical services as part of his effort to strengthen the state's healthcare system.
Dr. Ansari said strengthening OPD services is essential for improving the state’s healthcare system, adding that he will continue visiting district hospitals and personally attending OPDs every week.
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