A project report regarding the setting up of an infertility clinic at Women and Children Hospital, Thycaud, where in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment will be offered has been prepared, Minister for Health V.S. Sivakumar has said. With the development of the IVF facility, the hospital would gain the recognition of being the one public sector hospital in the State to offer this treatment, he said.
Mr. Sivakumar was speaking during an official ceremony to recognise the Thycaud hospital as a National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH)-certified medical establishment here on Friday.
Generic medicines
The Minister said that distribution of free generic medicines that began in the five medical college hospitals in the State on November 1 would be started in district hospitals in two months. In six months, primary health centres (PHCs) would be roped in for this scheme.
“Free generic medicines will be provided to all, without considering BPL/APL status,” Mr. Sivakumar said.
He expressed concern over the spike in lifestyle diseases, and said that more screening facilities would be introduced in PHCs.
Mr. Sivakumar spoke about developing the Thycaud hospital into a national institute for mother and child care. “I have spoken to the Chief Minister who has pledged his support. We will soon initiate a phase by phase development of the hospital,” he said.
On the paucity of doctors in many government hospitals, he said, “A meeting of senior medical officers was convened recently, and we have gathered that in every district except Kasaragod, the shortage of doctors has been met. The additional doctors required at Kasaragod will be provided within a week,” the Minister said.
“The government will strengthen the 22 community health centres in the district by making them functional round the clock,” he said.
The Minister lauded the efforts of the staff of the Thycaud hospital for earning the NABH accreditation. He said the staff had to fulfil exhaustive criteria to reach this goal, and the government would offer support to maintain the coveted status.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy handed over the NABH-accreditation certificate to hospital superintendent B. Ushakumari. A Special New Born Care Unit (SNCU) was inaugurated by Minister of State for Human Resource Development Shashi Tharoor at the hospital.