From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 22: Long queues of patients for in all taluk and district government hospitals in the State will be a thing of the past with patient registration going completely online all over the State in a month, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday.
Patient registrations at all district hospitals in Karnataka are set to go online within a month, the minister said and also promised similar system in taluk hospitals too.
Speaking to media persons after an inspection at the Jayanagara Government Hospital, he said officials have been instructed to provide appointments online or through SMS to reduce crowding at the hospital.
“This measure is being implemented to reduce long queues. A system is being implemented where patients will be given information online or through SMS on which doctor to meet at what time. There won’t be any need for patients to come to the hospital and wait. Any patient coming to district hospitals can take an appointment and pay online,” he said.
Dr Sudhakar visited each ward of the hospital and gathered information about the quality of service in the hospital from patients.
The minister announced a grant-in aid of Rs 5 crore to the Jayanagara Government Hospital following a discussion with the officials for repair works.
Further, minister Sudhakar said the officials have been instructed to take necessary measures to ensure that the Jayanagara Government Hospital qualifies to meet National Quality Standard (NQS).
“Through this, we have to increase the quality of service. I will visit again in the future to check whether the target has been achieved,’’ he added.
After the COVID-19 pandemic struck, a 51-bed ICU has been created here and to ensure proper functioning, the number of staff will be increased.
“I have sent a proposal for appointments of permanent staff to the Finance Department. Despite having 4 Orthopaedic specialists, only 40 procedures are taking place in the hospital. This number needs to be increased to 100. Also, a meeting will be held between various departments to bring about good coordination,’’ he said.
Some complaints have been received in the maternity department and officials have been instructed to take corrective measures. In charges of each department have been given specific targets and have been instructed to ensure a level of quality that would encourage patients to visit the government hospital instead of private ones.
There was a complaint against a contract doctor who was taking bribes. An investigation is under way and the officials have been instructed to remove that doctor from work even before the report is given.
He said the Karnataka government has a mother’s heart and he will visit other district hospitals to ensure quality healthcare.
“Some hospitals had charged COVID-19 patients and had again received money from the government. Notices were given to the hospitals to refund the money to the patients. In the first such effort by the government, we were successfully able to ensure a total of Rs 1.58 crore has been returned to the patients till date. The government will not rest until the last paisa that was collected this way is refunded,” he added.