Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Aug 1: Health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has said that steps will be taken to ensure at least two gynaecologists and anaesthetists in every taluk hospital across the state. To achieve this, specialists from less burdened community health centres will be transferred to taluk hospitals to strengthen them, he stated.

Addressing reporters after chairing a meeting of the Arogya Raksha Samiti held at the Wenlock Hospital RPCC hall on Friday, the minister said that while one paediatrician per taluk is sufficient, having two OBG and anaesthesia specialists will help ensure round-the-clock services. This, in turn, will allow taluk hospitals to carry out deliveries and other surgeries locally.

Currently, only one sanctioned post exists for each of these specialties in most taluk hospitals, he noted. Since many community health centres experience less patient load, transferring specialists from those centres to taluk hospitals would improve service delivery.

Cath lab at Wenlock soon

Gundu Rao also assured that the newly set-up cath lab at Wenlock Hospital will commence operations shortly. For BPL cardholders, angioplasty and cardiac surgeries including stent placement will be provided free of cost. However, under existing rules, angiograms are charged at a subsidised rate of Rs 5,000 even for BPL patients. Discussions are underway to make even this service completely free, he said.

The cost of a single stent, which is Rs 60,000, will be reduced to Rs 42,000 for APL cardholders. For double stents, the cost has been revised from Rs 85,000 to Rs 59,500, while additional stents will cost Rs 20,194 against the standard rate of Rs 28,849. Except for angiograms, all other heart-related treatments for APL cardholders will be offered at a 70:30 cost-sharing ratio, with 30% subsidised by the government, the minister added. Wenlock superintendent Dr Shivaprakash shared these details during the meeting, noting that angiograms for APL patients are priced at Rs 7,000.

CT and MRI scan facilities

Committee members raised concerns over public complaints regarding charges for CT and MRI scans at Wenlock and Lady Goschen Hospitals. They informed that MRPL has agreed to donate the required scanning equipment. The minister directed officials to ensure that CT and MRI facilities are made available at all district hospitals through government initiatives. MRPL has assured that the machines will be delivered within the current financial year, Dr Shivaprakash informed.

The meeting was attended by mooda president Sadashiva Ullal, deputy commissioner Darshan H V, and zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karboori.