Health Minister V. S. Sivakumar has said that the State government will soon declare its health policy.
Delivering the presidential address at the health adalat for Kollam district organised here on Saturday, he said that the draft in this connection has already been prepared and the health policy will be declared only after considering the views of all concerned.
He said that health sector of the State faces several problems and the health adalats being conducted are part of the government efforts to solve those problems in a phased manner.
All the district level health adalats conducted so far have been very successful.
Complaints and petitions which cannot be solved at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and District Medical Office levels are those coming up before the adalat. From July onwards generic medicines will be distributed free of cost through PHCs and a sum of Rs. 545 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. A sum of Rs. 4,600 crore has been set apart for meeting the requirements of the health sector during the Twelfth Five Year Plan.
He said there are technical difficulties to covert PHCs into Community Health Centres (CHC). But all steps will be taken to overcome the shortcomings at the PHCs.
The issue of posting specialists at the CHCs is being considered by the government. The shortage of staff at the CHCs will be solved soon, he said.
The Minister reiterated that if the required land is made available a medical college hospital will be sanctioned for Kollam.
Steps will also be taken to upgrade the Kollam district hospital to a general hospital. The district hospital is also being considered by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers for accreditation.
An intensive care unit at the paediatric block of the Government Victoria Hospital for Women and Children will be inaugurated within a month.
The adalat was inaugurated by the Labour Minister Shibu Baby John.
