Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Nov 17: Health minister U T Khader on Tuesday November 17 announced that the health department has decided to install 6 to 10-bedded ICUs along with ventilators in all district hospitals in the state, based on their requirement. He also informed that MRI and CT scan facilities will be installed in Wenlock hospital soon.
Addressing a press meet at the Circuit House here, Khader said, "In the recent past there has been ventilator shortage problem throughout the state, especially in Bengaluru and Mangaluru. To address this problem, the health department with the cooperation of the chief minister has decided to install 6 to 10-bedded ICUs along with ventilators in all district hospitals in the state as per their requirement.
"The revenue department has already approved Rs 22.37 crore for this purpose. Hospitals in 25 taluks will be chosen, and those in KR Puram, Yelahanka, Marihalla and other taluks around Bengaluru will also be installed with this facility. The health department has approved Rs 10.38 crore for installation of 19-bedded ICU in Indira Gandhi children's hospital. This would increase the number of ICU beds there from 11 to 30. In Kolar hospital, ventilators are already intalled and will be inaugurated shortly whereas in Chikkaballapur, work is under progress," he said.
"MRI and CT scan facilities will be installed in district Wenlock hospital under PPP model and we have fixed the charges at Rs 3,500. In KC General Hospital, Bengaluru this facility will be inaugurated in 2 weeks. Five generic stores with all the medicines at low cost will be inaugurated by December 5, and the rest five by December 20, and 20 more by the end of January," Khader added.
Regarding the work on the new block of Lady Goschen hospital, he said he has spoken to MRPL and the officials concerned have assured to complete the work at the earliest.
Asked whether there was any need for the state government to celebrate Tipu Jayanti despite so many protests, he said, "Tipu Jayanti was celebrated under the aegis of the minority deparment. Rs 25,000 for every taluk and 50,000 for every district was released to celebrate Tipu Jayanti. Tipu Jayanti is of no benefit to the Muslim community. There was a demand from that part, so it was celebrated. Tipu was a freedom fighter who fought against British. In democracy people have the right to protest."
On the situation in Ullal, he said, "Everyone should cooperate to maintain peace and harmony in society. Some miscreants have pelted stones and tried to disrupt peace. But people of Ullal have not reacted and instead helped in maintaining calm. People of all communities are living in harmony, only a few have created trouble."