Mangaluru: Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced the government’s plan to launch a mass screening programme to assess the health of Karnataka’s entire population. “Under this programme, we will be mass screening the entire population of Karnataka. The programme will be introduced in eight districts on a pilot basis. Each house in the district will be covered under the programme through the department. The focus will be on checking blood pressure, and sugar, and early detection of cervical cancer, breast cancer, and other diseases. In the case of blood pressure and blood sugar, we will ensure the door delivery of required medicines to them regularly,” the minister said at the inaugural of new facilities at Justice KS Hegde Charitable Hospital here on Monday.
He emphasized the importance of early disease detection and prevention. “It is easy to treat any disease if it is detected early. Many people reach the hospital at the last stage when it is too late. To ensure early detection and screening, the govt has planned this mass screening programme,” he said. Rao also highlighted the crucial role of the private sector in bringing new technology, research, and exposing doctors to new advancements, stressing the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Boosting Medical Tourism: Speaker UT Khader mentioned plans to enhance medical tourism in the district to attract visitors from neighboring countries. “The health minister and I will chalk out a plan soon to open the doors of the medical sector in the region to people from small countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other nations,” Khader said. He also announced that Rs 25 crore has been released for the remaining work on the road from Thokkottu to Deralakatte, the hub of medical colleges.
Action on Surathkal Tollgate Cases: Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao assured the Action Committee Against Surathkal Tollgate that steps would be taken to withdraw the case against those who protested for the tollgate’s closure. A delegation met the minister and submitted a memorandum on Monday. Muneer Katipalla, the convener of the action committee, mentioned the minister’s positive response to withdrawing the case against 101 leaders from various political parties and organizations. The protests, which lasted nearly seven years, led to the closure of toll collection at the Surathkal plaza on December 1, 2022.