Inaugurating a newly constructed rural hospital at Zodge near Malegaon, Dr Aher said that the State has already decided to upgrade existing 176 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) as rural hospitals in the State.

He further said that the State would also build trauma care centres at every 50 km distance on the highways to provide prompt medical attention to road accident victims.

He said that the upgradation of health care facilities were being undertaken from the financial aid of Rs 750 crore given by the World Bank. In Nashik district alone rural hospitals have been planned in seven towns - Abhona, Umarane, Dang Saundane, Nampur, Yeola, Sinnar and Bhagur. The rural hospital inaugurated at Zodge was built at a cost of Rs 1 crore.

Apart from rural hospitals at block levels, super-speciality hospitals have been planned atdistrict places, Dr Aher said.