The government will bring in a regulatory mechanism to ensure that there is a rationalisation of prescriptions, investigations, and treatment procedures in the private sector hospitals so that people are not burdened by the high cost of care.
Governor P. Sathasivam, in his address to the Assembly on Thursday, said that there were several complaints about the indiscriminate manner in which at least some private hospitals prescribed investigations and treatment procedures.
The government would ensure that indiscriminate practices in the private sector hospitals are regulated and that the costs are streamlined as well, Mr. Sathasivam said.
A mandatory child health check-up programme would be initiated and annual health check-ups, including diabetes screening, dental and eye tests, would be made a regular feature in schools.
Stroke management centres and palliative chemotherapy for cancer would be set up in all district hospitals
A comprehensive emergency management system, including ambulances for evacuation and trauma centres staffed with trained emergency medical personnel, is on the anvil.
State’s sustainable development goals in health would be achieved through the revamp of primary healthcare system. Primary Health Centres would be upgraded to family health centres to meet the current epidemiological challenges.
Some of the new projects that the Governor mentioned in his address included a personalised medicine research laboratory at Malabar Cancer Centre; diagnostic facilities in clinical genetics using sophisticated technology, and resource/ training/ treatment centre for autism under the child development centre at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.
