Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Sep 22: Brain health clinics have commenced operations at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru and the district hospital at Ajjarakad in Udupi, aimed at promoting the treatment of nerve-related diseases.

Initially, brain health clinics were launched on a trial basis in district hospitals in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and Bengaluru with the cooperation of NIMHANS and the state government. This initiative has now been extended to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. So far, 1,000 patients have received treatment in these twin districts.

The clinics are expected to benefit residents of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Karwar, Kasargod, Kodagu, Hassan, and Shivamogga districts.

A team of six professionals operates the brain health clinic. At Wenlock Hospital, both the neurology department and the brain health clinic are merged. The team includes a neurologist, medical officer, district coordinator, staff nurse, speech and language pathologist, physiotherapist, and clinical psychologist. Currently, the physiotherapist position is vacant and will be filled in the next two months.

At Udupi, according to the coordinator, a neurologist from KMC will conduct examinations every Thursday. The brain health clinic provides treatment for nerve-related diseases such as headaches, paralysis, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s, among others. The clinic operates as an outpatient department (OPD). For advanced treatment, patients are referred to the district hospital. If the required treatment is unavailable at the district hospital, patients are further referred to NIMHANS. Currently, medicines are supplied by district hospitals, but from next month, they will be sourced directly from NIMHANS.

The brain health clinic operates from 9 am to 4:30 pm. On government holidays, it is open from 9 am to 1 pm, while it remains closed on Sundays. Consultation, counseling, medicines, MRI, and other services are offered free of charge.

Dr. Sudarshan and Dr. Latha, Nodal Officers of the Karnataka Brain Health Program, stated, "The brain health clinic has been established to provide medical treatment for brain and nerve-related diseases. This initiative is coordinated by NIMHANS and the Karnataka government. We encourage the public to make full use of the services."