Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that more cooperative institutions should come up in the healthcare sector to ensure that all strata of people in society received good medical care.
Inaugurating the second phase of the development of Thrikkakara Municipal Cooperative Hospital, Kakkanad, on Monday, Mr. Vijayan said that though government and private hospitals dealt with healthcare there was vast difference in their approach. Calling for strengthening of cooperatives for healthcare, he said the government would not step back from its responsibility and that it would improve all government healthcare institutions, including primary healthcare centres that would be developed into family healthcare centres.
He said there was no need for multi-specialty hospitals everywhere. It was enough that well-equipped small hospitals came up in large numbers so that any case could be referred to bigger hospitals.
The Chief Minister said Malayalis were known for their kindness. He cited the example of Naushad in Kozhikode, who lost his life while saving two labourers from a manhole. On the contrary, the incident in which an accident victim, Murugan, died without getting proper medical care in Thiruvananthapuram threw a different light on Kerala society. A probe was on into the circumstances in which Murugan did not receive medical care. Once the report was received proper action would be taken to ensure that such incidents did not recur in the State. In a case of emergency, the focus should be on saving life rather than ensuring money for treatment, he added.
P.T. Thomas, MLA; District Collector Mohammed Y. Safirulla, municipal chairperson K.K. Neenu, president of the hospital M.P. Sukumaran Nair, and board member M.M. Abbas spoke.
Petronet LNG Limited and Cochin Shipyard Limited have made substantial contributions to the development of the new facilities at the hospital.
Role of banks
Later, inaugurating the conclusion of the Navathi celebrations of Edappally Vadakkumbhagam Service Cooperative Bank, the Chief Minister urged cooperative banks to grow into institutions that catered to all the credit requirements of people, especially farmers. The cooperative banks should build strong bonds with the people they were serving.
Mr. Vijayan said some of the cooperative banks neglected the farmers and the farmers ended up in the hands of those who lent money at exorbitant rates. The cooperatives must save farmers from exploitation, he added.
