In what could serve as a ‘freebie’ to coerce unwilling MBBS graduates to take up rural postings, medical education and district in-charge minister S A Ramdas on Friday announced that the government has set aside a whopping Rs 386 crore to meet the salary and incentives of doctors serving in rural areas.
Participating in the arogya dasoha (Mass health) programme at Periyapatna in the district, organised by the district administration in association with zilla panchayat, taluk administration and taluk panchayat of Periyapatna, the minister said in the next eight months, three doctors will be posted to every primary health centre and will be working round the clock.
The State has a total of 2,386 PHCs, the minister added.
Besides, the government is taking measures to create various other basic infrastructural facilities for the benefit of rural doctors and it is up to the villagers to provide them (doctors) suitable accommodation.
The minister said that the State has already made a start to distribute medicines at affordable rates by opening drug stores on the premises of K R Hospital, and Janata Bazaar at the discount rate in the range of 50 per cent o 75 per cent. This initiative will largely benefit economically weaker sections.
Orphan kids
The district has a total of 199 orphan kids suffering from AIDS.
Efforts are underway to adopt such kids and extend them required medical facilities.
That apart, 1,447 children suffering from malnutrition are also being treated.
Vajpayee Arogya Sri plan has been extended to all parts of the State including Mysore district and the BPL card holders and their dependents will be able to avail treatment up to Rs 1.50 lakh for various diseases even at bigger hospitals, without spending a penny from their pockets.
A massive health checkup camp is planned across the district in the month of September to popularise the very programme.
District health officer Dr S M Malegowda informed that a total of 2,06,440 people were diagnosed in the particular taluk for the programme. ASHA volunteers in association with health workers surveyed 44,948 houses in 302 villages and identified 1,03,211 men and 1,03,229 suffering from various diseases. Among them 935 are suffering from diabetes, 813 hyper tension, 61 cancer, 2058 cardiac, 41 kidney, 104 skin and 312 other diseases.
ZP president Bhagya Shivamurthy, vice-president Bhagyalaksmi, dean of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC and RI) Dr Geetha K Avadhani and others were present.
Six new medical colleges
The minister also announced that there are proposals to start six medical colleges including in Kodagu in the State. The proposals are now pending approval from chief minister and will be later forwarded to the central government.
Hospital at P’patna
The taluk hospital at Periyapatna will be dedicated for the benefit of the needy people ahead of Dasara, the minister added.