From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 6: In a big push to improve health services in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, which accounts for 28 assembly constituencies along with those in Bengaluru rural district, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be opening on Tuesday, February 7, as many as 108 Namma Clinics to provide universal and comprehensive Primary Healthcare.
Addressing media persons in Bengaluru, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar said each of the Namma Clinics will cater to 15,000-20,000 people and provide 12 services including antenatal, postnatal care and immunization.
“Our government has given top priority to enhance healthcare infrastructure in the state and the chief minister will simultaneously launch 108 Namma Clinics in BBMP limits,’’ Dr Sudhakar said.
The newly established Namma Clinic in Mahalakshmipura ward of Mahalakshmi Layout will be inaugurated on Tuesday and remaining 107 clinics will also be launched on the same occasion, he said.
The minister said all these 108 Namma Clinics will be made available for public service from Tuesday itself.
Earlier on December 14, 2022, Bommai had launched 100 Namma Clinics in a function held at Bairadevarakoppa in Dharwad.
While interacting with beneficiaries about the services available in Namma Clinics, people expressed their happiness and thanked the Chief Minister for this initiative, he said.
The Namma Clinics which are functioning as Urban Health and Wellness Centres are heralding a new era in primary healthcare.
Namma Clinics are providing comprehensive primary healthcare to poor, vulnerable and underprivileged sections in the urban areas.
A total of 438 Namma Clinics are being launched and these will aid in ensuring quality preventive and primary care for daily wagers, labourers etc, said Dr Sudhakar.
Under the National Urban Health Mission, at present there is one primary health centre for every 50,000 population, he said pointing out that under the grants of 15th Finance Commission we are establishing one primary health centre to cater 15,000-20,000 population in urban areas.
Out of the 438 Namma Clinics, 243 will be in BBMP and the rest 195 will be in districts, the minister explained.
Referral facility will be available
Dr Sudhakar said Namma Clinics are designed to provide universal and comprehensive primary healthcare in urban areas.
Referral facility will also be available and patients requiring higher treatment will be referred to secondary and tertiary centres. This will not only reduce the cost of treatment but will also decentralise the healthcare services, he said.
Each Namma Clinic will have one doctor, one nursing staff, one lab technician and one D-group worker.
Facilities in Namma Clinics
A total of 12 healthcare services packages will be available including antenatal, postnatal care, adolescent care, immunization, family planning, fertility, communicable diseases management, general and minor injuries, preventive care for NCDs, oral care, eye care, ENT, mental health, geriatric care and laboratory services. Tele-consultation, wellness activities like yoga and referral services will also be available, the minister explained.
Namma Clinics will be available for the public from 9 AM to 4:30 PM from Monday to Saturday.
Each Namma Clinic is set up in a 1000 sq ft area with separate space for waiting area, OPD consultation room, immunization ward, laboratory, yoga room, medicines counter, administrative section etc.
The Namma Clinics will have separate toilet facilities for men, women and staff, said minister.