A total of 1,224 doctors and 700 specialists in various fields would be appointed in government hospitals in the State within two weeks to provide better healthcare, said Minister for Health Vijaya Baskar.
Talking to media persons after inspecting Dindigul headquarters hospital here on Saturday, he said that verification of certificates was over. Appointment orders would be issued. Already, 650 nurses were recruited and orders issued to them, he added.
Briefing on other development activities, the Minister said the capacity of key hospitals would be strengthened by upgrading facilities, equipment and human resources with a special focus on non-communicable diseases under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project.
This ₹1,534-crore project would be implemented in 17 cities and towns, including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Tirunelveli, Erode, Vellore, Tiruppur, Thoothukudi, Nagercoil, Thanjavur, Cuddalore, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Krishnagiri and Periyakulam, he added.
Reacting to spread of dengue in Palani and Dindigul blocks, he said that all efforts were on to prevent dengue. Only two cases were detected so far in Dindigul. About 98 testing centres in Government Hospitals in the State were fully equipped to detect all kinds of viral fever.
I advised all doctors in PHCs and private hospitals to send dengue suspect cases to the Government Hospital immediately for early detection and treatment, he said.
A Centre for Excellence for Maternity Care would be established in Dindigul Government headquarters hospital at an estimated cost of ₹20 crore soon. The State government had planned to set up this centre in four districts under the JICA project of which Dindigul was one of them. This centre would function round-the-clock on a new building on Dindigul Government Hospital campus with gynaecologists, child specialist, surgeon and anaesthetist and other paramedical staff to provide advanced maternity care.
Besides, MRI scan facility would be commissioned at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore, he added. Later, he inspected the fever ward in Dindigul and Palani Government Hospitals.
Sivaganga
Mr. Vijaya Baskar inaugurated a comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care centre at a cost of ₹10 crore at the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital on Saturday.
The Minister, accompanied by his colleague Minister for Khadi and Village Industries Board G. Baskaran, inaugurated the new facility at a brief function, presided over by Collector S. Malarvizhi in the presence of local MP P.R. Senthilnathan.
Speaking at the function, Mr. Vijaya Baskar said the centre was equipped with both the manpower and the infrastructure required to take care of expectant mothers and the newborn children round-the-clock.
He said the government had spent ₹1,573.23 crore in the last six years for upgrading infrastructure in government hospitals and ₹401.97 crore for purchasing medical equipment.
Manamadurai MLA S. Mariappan Kennedy, Medical Education Director Edwin Joe, District Revenue Officer T. Ilango and Medical College Hospital Dean Santhimalar were among others present.
