Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jul 1: The health department is set to open 254 new Namma Clinics across the state, with five of these clinics to be established in Dakshina Kannada (DK) district. This addition will bring the total number of Namma Clinics in the district to 17, providing convenient healthcare services to the poor and residents of urban areas.

Currently, 12 Namma Clinics are operational in Dakshina Kannada. The new clinics will be located at Kotekar (Kondana), Guttakadu (Kinnigoli), Lingappaiahnakadu (Mulky), and Malavoor (Bajpe) in Mangaluru, as well as in Ukkuda (Vittal). Furthermore, there are instructions from the NHM commissioner’s meeting on June 14 to open six more Namma Clinics, though the locations are yet to be finalized.

The health department plans to establish Namma Clinics in areas with populations exceeding 30,000. In areas with populations over 50,000, primary health centers are already in operation. The primary goal of these clinics is to provide comprehensive healthcare services to city dwellers and facilitate referrals to secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

Dr H R Timmaiah, health officer of Dakshina Kannada, stated, “The state government has approved the opening of five more Namma Clinics. The tender process will be completed soon, and additional clinics will be established. However, the final guidelines for this expansion are still pending.”