As many as 1,628 private medical institutions in Karnataka are functioning without the mandatory registration under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act, 2007.
Even though 3,622 institutions do not display the rate list for various services as mandated by law, only 709 have been booked for violating rules.
This was revealed by Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader in reply to a query in the Legislative Council by Bharatiya Janata Party member Tara. The Minister assured action against errant medical institutions. Mysore, with 330 unregistered institutions, tops the list, followed by Belgaum with 301.
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Congress member V.S. Ugrappa said the government should amend the Act to enable the Health Department have a role in fixing rates in private hospitals. The Minister said this would be considered.
The Health Department in Karnataka has completed a survey in 20 high-traffic density wards of Bangalore to start motorbike ambulance service on a pilot basis. This will be extended to other urban areas later under the National Urban Health Mission, he said.
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Responding to a question by BJP member Siddaraju, Mr. Khader said this was proposed because reaching patients during the ‘golden hour’ in dense traffic was difficult. However, he did not say how many motorbikes would be pressed into service when it is introduced.
The ambulance, with a paramedic, will have oxygen and first-aid kit for administering care to the patient before shifting him/her to a four-wheeler ambulance. This is the first attempt of its kind.
Blood bankReplying to another question by Bharati Shetty of the BJP, Mr. Khader said the government plans on launching blood banks in every district hospital and a blood storage facility in every taluk centre. Ms. Shetty said that the existing blood blanks were in bad shape.