Minister lists new measures to strengthen public health system

Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar on Thursday announced a series of new programmes to strengthen the public health care system.

Soon all the 146 taluk hospitals would have a dialysis centre run on the public-private partnership model. While the government would provide infrastructure, private players would appoint staff, put equipment in place and maintain them.

Three-bed ICU would be set up in all taluk hospitals at a cost of Rs 27 lakh each.  All taluk hospitals will have blood storage units and district hospitals blood banks. “This is to ensure that no patient in cases such as dengue suffers due to non-availability of blood,” the minister said.

‘Upaharagruhas’ would be started in all taluk and district hospitals where food would be made available for patients, their attendants and group ‘D’ staff of the hospital at a subsidised price. With consumables from the Food and Civil Supplies department, idlis would be priced ar Rs 4, chapati and sabzi or rice at Rs 8 per plate. Drinking water would be supplied by the MSIL.

He said a committee has been formed to amend the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act to address grievances of patients in private hospitals.