Banks in the district will collectively involve themselves in an innovative initiative to support the Health Department's efforts to improve the public health care facilities in the district.
The idea of the bank's involvement in the efforts to supplement the Health Department's plans to identify infrastructural deficiencies in the public health care facilities including hospitals and improve them was taken up at an informal meeting of Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi with bankers in the district here on Saturday. The meeting initiated under the aegis of Syndicate Bank, district Lead bank, was the outcome of an earlier proposal of the Lead bank to mobilise involvement of banks in the district including private and new generation banks to help the Health officials improve the facilities.
Speaking at the meeting attended by senior bank officials of all the banks operating here, Ms. Sreemathi appreciated the idea mooted by the Lead bank and said the banks had a corporate social responsibility to help the public. She also said the bankers and Health officials here would work as a team to ensure success of the initiative to improve the facilities.
The meeting attended by District Collector V.K. Balakrishnan, Syndicate Bank Regional Manager V.P.G. Nayanar, District Medical Officer P.V. Krishnan and Lead Manager C.K. Thulasidharan decided to constitute a consortium of banks to collectively pool in resources for extending their assistance in improving the facilities at the government hospitals. A committee with the District Collector as chairman and Lead Manager as convener as well as an executive committee was also formed.
When contacted, Mr. Thulasidharan said the Health Department officials would identify the problems and submit their proposals. The committee would examine the proposals and offer assistance to introduce them, he said. The facilities would be reviewed every year, he said.