Minister for Health and Family Welfare K.R. Ramesh Kumar has said that government Primary Health Centres, where the number of outpatients is more than 150 per day, would be upgraded to 24x7 healthcare centres.
The functioning of the Department of Health and Family Welfare in Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Davangere and Chitradurga districts was reviewed by Mr. Kumar at a meeting in the city on Monday.
Each PHC has one post of doctor. Those that have more than 150 outpatients a day would be sanctioned one more post of doctor, Mr. Kumar said, at the meeting. In addition to this, a 10-bed mother and child healthcare wing will be set up at such PHCs under the National Health Mission.
He directed the District Health Officers to furnish the list of PHCs with a turnout of more than 150 outpatients per day to him in eight days.
Mr. Kumar said all taluk government health centres in the State would have the facility of dialysis from November 1.
He directed the DHOs to ensure stock of medicines at all government hospitals. Orders for medicines should be placed with the Karnataka State Drugs Logistics and Warehousing Society in advance.
There should be enough stock of all life-saving medicines at generic drug outlets at government hospitals, he added.
State of McGann Hospital
Expressing displeasure over the quality of service at McGann Hospital (a government hospital attached to the Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences), Mr. Kumar said there were complaints that patients coming in for simple orthopaedic surgical procedures were being referred to the Government Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru. This has resulted in overcrowding of Wenlock Hospital.
He said it was unfortunate that though McGann Hospital has 12 operation theatres and a 75-bed intensive care unit, the patients were being sent to Wenlock Hospital.
Handigodu Syndrome
District Health Officer Rajesh Suragihalli told the meeting that over 4,000 persons in the State are suffering from Handigodu Syndrome, an osteoarthritic disorder endemic to the Malnad region. Mr. Kumar said one post of physiotherapist will be sanctioned for Taluk Health Centre in Sagar to provide necessary treatment for the patients suffering from Handigodu Syndrome.
Manojkumar Meena, Commissioner of Department of Health and Family Welfare; Rathan Kelkar, State Mission Director, NHM; M. Lokesh, Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner; Jyothi Kumar, President of Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat and its CEO Rakesh Kumar K. were present.
