Health Minister K.K. Shylaja has said that the government will ensure the development of basic infrastructure at government hospitals in the district and provide quality services to patients.
Even though there were many private hospitals, many could not meet the high cost of treatment in these institutions.
The Health Department had given special consideration for carrying out developmental works in government hospitals in the district, she said in an official release issued on Monday.
Nearly 162 posts were created in Government Medical College, Ernakulam, after the Left Democratic Front came to power. Over 100 new posts were created in the health sector here. A world-renowned cancer expert was appointed as permanent director at the Kochi Cancer Centre. The out-patient wing and day care chemo ward of the cancer centre were started at the medical college, according to the release.
The Minister pointed out that a special package was sanctioned for the medical college by the government. Works to the tune of ₹680 crore, including the ₹620-crore assistance under the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), had been initiated in the institution.
About ₹310 crore was sanctioned for projects like mother and child protection block, super specialty block, staff quarters and auditorium for the medical college. For Kochi cancer centre, about ₹310 crore had been earmarked under KIIFB.
Ms. Shylaja said that plans were being worked out to implement patient-friendly projects at the Ernakulam Government Medical College. The department would set up emergency medicine wing as part of the decision to improve trauma care services. Various posts had been filled after starting super specialty wings. Moreover, vacant teacher posts were filled by deploying personnel from other medical colleges in the State, she said.
