Bengaluru: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare plans to establish dialysis centres at all taluk and district hospitals for the benefit of diabetes patients who cannot afford exorbitant fee at private hospitals.
Speaking with media persons here on Thursday, Minister for Health and Family Welfare K S Ramesh Kumar said that dialysis centres would be mandatory at all taluk and district hospitals in the state. “We have floated tenders inviting bidders to set up four-bedded dialysis units at 27 district and 146 taluk hospitals on public private partnership (PPP) model. “These dialysis units will be maintained by private organizations. These centres will be established by January 2017,’’ the minister said.
New legislation
The minister said new legislation would be framed to regulate private medical institutions for the benefit of public. He said a committee has been constituted with all stakeholders under the chairmanship of retired Chief Justice Vikramjith Sen. “The committee will submit the report in eight weeks. The basic aim of the committee is to review and address the grievances of patients seeking care in private medical establishments. The other objective is to ensure mandatory and compulsory display of rates for diagnostics/different medical and surgical procedures and services. To take stringent action against private medical establishments that misuse and neglect common man’s interests and indulge in illegal activity,” the minister said.
Intensive Care Units
The minister said the health and family welfare department has taken measures to establish an intensive care unit (ICU) along with ventilators at all taluk hospitals in the state. The minister said, as per the report submitted by Dr C N Manjunath, Director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, it requires approximately Rs 27 lakh to set up a three-bedded ICU along with ventilators. “Out of Rs 27 lakh required for this purpose, Rs 15 lakh will be met from MLA Constituency Fund, Rs 5 lakh from MP Constituency Fund and remaining Rs 7 lakh from National Health Mission. We have requested MLAs and MPs to provide the required funds,” the minister said.
Blood Banks
The minister said the platelets are essential for the treatment of chikungunya and dengue fever. “It is proposed to establish a blood component separation unit at all district hospitals and blood banks at all taluk hospitals. Blood bank facilities with blood component separation units will be established at all district hospitals across the state,” the minister said.
Extended Health Centres
Impressed by quality of service at extended health centres in New Delhi, the state health and family welfare department has decided to establish extended health centres in thickly populated areas, labour colony area and slums. “Infosys Foundation and Bicon Limited have come forward to provide financial assistance to procure medical equipment at these centres. I have to congratulate AAP government for excellently maintaining extended health centres in New Delhi. Recently, I along with health department officials, visited some of the extended health centres in New Delhi,” the minister said.
Strengthening Health Helpline 104
The minister also announced the plan to set up Health Helpline in Bengaluru to reduce the burden on the existing Health Helpline functioning from Hubli. “We have decided to establish a Health Helpline at CV Raman Hospital, Indirangar, Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 9 crore. It will become operational in 45 days. There is a proposal to set up a Health Helpline in Raichur by next year,” the minister said.
Mortuary facility
The health and family welfare department has decided to provide mortuary facilities at 2,200 primary health centres and community health centres across the state. “There is no postmortem facility at most of the primary health centres and community health centres. The proposed mortuary facilities can be utilized for conducting postmortem,” the minister said.
