Mangalore:Sept 11 (DHN): State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Aravind Limbavali gave the nod to develop infrastructure at District Wenlock Hospital at a cost of Rs nine crore. The fund, which was released to the district administration but not utilised so far will be used for amenities at the hospital.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Wenlock Hospital on Monday, he said that he would issue an order to the Deputy Commissioner directing to utilise the allotted amount for renovation and improving dialysis centre, ventilators facility in the ICU.
“The administration of Wenlock Hospital which was in the hands of the Medical Education Department so far, has been now handed over to the Health Department. The order for the same is yet to be issued. Once the formalities are completed, the Health Department will take up initiatives to chalk out plans to upgrade the hospital,” he added.
He said the Department has taken the initiative to provide health care to the poor by extending Vajpayee Arogyashri health scheme to cover BPL families in Bangalore and Mysore revenue divisions. The scheme will be launched in these two regions at the earliest. It will cover 135 hospitals and the government will bear the surgery cost of the patients with BPL card. The government will bear medical expenses upto Rs 1.5 lakh.
Speaking on recruiting Ayush doctors in the hospitals to solve the shortage of MBBS doctors, he said the process of recruiting them in the taluk hospitals is under progress. The Department is also contemplating to recruit them in Primary Health Centres in case of necessity.
The government has also begun discussions on the introduction of Right to Health care act. In a recent meeting attended by the Chief Minister and expert doctors, the doctors too have favoured the need to implement the Act, he said.
Responding to the request of nurses to regularise their services, the Minister said the Chief Minister has already constituted a Cabinet committee for the purpose. The committee would take dicision on regularising the services of 5000 male and female nurses who were hired on contract basis. The issue will be discussed in the meeting and the decision will be taken, said Limbavali.
Deputy Speaker Yogish Bhat submitted a memorandum to the Minister. The demands included, improve facilities in jail ward and psychiatry ward of Wenlock Hospital, upgrading ICU, staff quarters, open a super speciality wing, upgrading the 250 bed Lady Goschen Hospital to 500 bed.