Bengaluru: The chief minister said that Arogya Karnataka Yojane (Universal Health Coverage) would be started in February 2018 and be implemented in the entire State by the end of this year in order to make available primary and specific secondary and tertiary treatment to all people of the State.
“Around 9000 Health and Wellness Centers will be set up by upgrading the existing Sub-Centers for every 5000 population in rural areas during the next 7 years for providing high quality comprehensive primary health care services. The focus is on reproductive and child health and on prevention of illness and promotes wellbeing in the community. 571 centers will be established during 2018-19,” the chief minister said.
To strengthen reproductive and child health services, to reduce the current rate of infant and maternal mortality, the rate of infant mortality (IMR) and maternity mortality (MMR) will be reduced to the lowest level as is prevailing in any other State of the country today in the next 7 years with the assistance of Women and Child Development Department and use of better technical services.
“In the primary health care stage itself, nonepidemic diseases will be detected early by using specific technology and will be treated. In this way, treatment will be made available at low cost without burdening the Government and patients,’’ he said.
All major district and taluka hospitals shall be certified under NABH to improve quality of health services. Public accountability will be enhanced by displaying the number of out-patients, in-patients, child births in the public domain daily.
“A State Health Council shall be set up with mandate of recommending health sector policy and programme options to the government, keeping an oversight on performance and effectiveness of public health institutions and overseeing effective implementation of Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act (KPME Act),’’ he said.
Mental health care programme shall be reoriented to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of patients with mental illness during delivery of mental healthcare and services in line with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
“During 2018-19, a total amount of Rs. 6,645 crore is provided to Health and Family Welfare Department,’’ he said.
1,000-bedded ward at BMCRI
The Budget proposes construction of a 1,000-bedded additional ward in Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute.
“Construction of hospitals in medical colleges of Gadag, Koppal and Chamarajanagar with an estimated cost of Rs.100 crore each will be commenced. For this, a grant of Rs.90 crore will be provided during 2018-19,’’ the chief minister said.
The Budget also proposes Cardio Vascular treatment facility at a cost of Rs.7.81 crore at Shimoga Super Speciality Hospital this financial year. “In the year 2018-19, PET CT Scan facility will be established at an estimated cost of Rs.15 crore at Kidwai Cancer Institute, Bengaluru. A new building will be constructed at Nursing College Mysuru at a cost of Rs.30 crore. Cardio Vascular treatment units with cathlab facility will be established at Bidar Medical Sciences Institute and Gadag Medical Sciences Institute with an estimated cost of Rs.15 crore each,’’ he said.
A Burns Ward will be commenced at Kalaburagi Medical College with the grants from HyderabadKarnataka Development Region. It also proposes a cancer treatment unit at an estimated cost of Rs.15 crore each in Hassan, Mysuru and Karwar.
“The facilities in the nursing schools and colleges coming under the Medical Education Department will be upgraded at an estimated cost of Rs.30 crore. In 2018-19, an outlay of Rs. 2,177 crore has been provided to the Medical Education Department,’’ he said.
