The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), on the lines of the National Rural Health Mission, a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, will be implemented in Mysore, Bangalore, Mangalore, Bagalkot and Ullal (in Dakshina Kannada) from this year.
A sum of Rs. 8 crore would be allocated from the Ministry to launch activities under the NUHM.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader said here on Saturday that the health delivery system in the five cities would be upgraded and infrastructure such as diagnostic laboratories would be created to extend healthcare services to people in urban areas.
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He was speaking at a meeting with the officials of the department and the Mysore City Corporation at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.
The Minister said that the primary health centres (PHCs) in the five cities would function till 8 p.m. as additional staff, including doctors and nurses, would be appointed.
Accredited Social Health Activists would also work in urban areas to promote the mission, he said.
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Subsequently, other urban areas of the State would implement the NUHM, a five-year programme, according to Mr. Khader.
University Health CoverageMysore and Raichur districts have been identified as pilot districts for the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), an ambitious programme of the Union government.
The programme had been announced to provide healthcare services to everybody, the Minister said.
“The idea is to give health coverage to those residing in the two districts. A data bank on the residents would be prepared through a door-to-door survey and steps would be taken to bring them under a health scheme. People should not be deprived of healthcare benefits,” he said.
Mr. Khader announced that the State was planning to extend the benefits of Vajyapee Arogyasri scheme to above the poverty line (APL) families. This will be linked to the UHC. “Karnataka will be the first State to provide health cover to the APL families.”
Vasu and M.K. Somashekar, MLAs; N.M. Rajeshwari, Mayor; P.A. Gopal, zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer; Puttaswamy, District Health Officer; Nagaraj, District Surveillance Officer, and P.G. Ramesh, MCC Commissioner attended the meeting.
Earlier, Mr. Khader reviewed the department’s performance in the district and collected information on the status of communicable and other diseases.
Mr. Khader directed the officials to ensure that proper healthcare was provided to people.
He also told them to keep sufficient stock of medicines to avoid causing inconvenience to patients.