Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Dec 25: Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday December 25 inaugurated the new advanced treatment block of KMC Hospital. The new block consists of IBM Watson cognitive computing platform which uses artificial intelligence for the treatment of cancer patients. KMC is the first in the country and only the second in the world to adopt this technology.
Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new hospital, Parrikar conveyed Christmas and New Year wishes and said, "It is a good day to inaugurate a hospital, as Jesus Christ called upon people to help the poor and the needy. Today, healthcare is an important aspect. India is slowly becoming the health centre of the world. On the one hand, we have top-end facilities, and on the hand, we have a huge demand.
"Hence, even though KMC hospitals are engaging in charity, I still request the KMC hospitals to treat certain percentage of patients in society at very reasonable costs. It need not be given free of cost, but it should be at an affordable price to the poorest of poor," he said.
Urging hospitals to move over to cashless services, he said, "About 25 hospitals in Goa have adopted cashless services and introduced Mediclaim facility for everyone with the initiative of the state government. Now the focus is on prevention of diseases. I call upon the hospitals here to do the same. I wish good luck to KMC Hospital and speedy recovery of all patients."
Pro-chancellor of Manipal University Dr H S Ballal said, "At Manipal hospitals, no patient is denied healthcare. Manipal Hospitals was the first institute in the country to start healthcare under public-private partnership. Since the beginning, Wenlock and Lady Goschen hospitals have been served by us, and even today, our staff who work there make sure that the poorest of the poor get the best medical treatment in these hospitals. Even in our hospitals, we provide premium facilities even for the poor sometimes for free, and sometimes at affordable prices. Through Manipal Arogya Scheme, we provide healthcare free of cost up to the limit of Rs 50,000 for BPL families, and every year we keep aside Rs 20-25 crore for this work."
Addressing Parrikar, Dr Ballal assured that all the facilities available in the new block will be made available to the poorest of poor.
Food and civil supplies minister U T Khader launched the IBM Watson cognitive computing platform technology.
Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, chairman of Manipal Hospitals welcomed the gathering.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLA J R Lobo, T V Mohandas Pai and others were present.
Facilities
World-class facilities at the new block include the high-end IBM Watson cognitive computing platform for the treatment of cancer patients, which uses data from everyday research papers across the globe and personalises the treatment.
The new advanced treatment block has 7 operation theatres, 42 ICUs on multiple floors, and 191 beds.