The KMC may soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government in this regard. Minister for Medical Education Ramachandra Gowda on Monday said that the authorities of KMC have agreed for the next step “in principle”.
Addressing media persons after conducting a meeting with the local MLA, officials and the heads of Manipal group at the Regional Advanced Paediatric Care Centre (RAPCC) here, the minister said maintaining cleanliness and fulfiling the staff requirement of the Wenlock and the Lady Goschen Hospital have been the major challenges.
“Once the issue is discussed with the Chief Minister and other authorities concerned, arrangements will be made for the MoU. The KMC has agreed to look after the cleanliness, security and additional staff requirements of both the hospitals with its own expenditure,” he said.
Gowda said the KMC has requested for a representation in the Arogya Raksha Samiti of the State, and a decision in this regard would be taken after discussing the same with the CM, Health Minister and the Health Secretary.
The minister who earlier had visited the Wenlock, the Lady Goschen hospital and the RAPCC, said the problems he came across through the staff and the patients there, would be solved on a priority basis. “Consultations are needed to chalk out a plan as how to develop the hospitals keeping in view the necessities of the patients and medical students,” he added.
Manipal University Chancellor Ramadas Pai and Pro-Chancellor H S Ballal who were present on the occasion wished that the MoU would help mutual growth. “It should benefit both students and the public,” Pai said.
Referral hospital
MLA N Yogish Bhat said the idea of transforming Wenlock into a referral hospital for seven districts will be implemented on a public-private-partnership basis. “When the RAPCC was seeded on a PPP basis, it was just a pilot project. The Wenlock Hospital too will be developed into a super-speciality hospital on the same lines. Several donors have come forward to support the venture,” he said.
Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad will be visiting Mangalore soon. He will also be requested for all possible help from the Centre to realise the dream of the super-speciality hospital, Bhat said.
Group D workers’ plea
A group of Group D workers at the RAPCC submitted a memorandum to the minister urging that their service should be regularised and the salary should be increased. As many as 13 workers are working for a salary of Rs 2,000 per month for the past two years.
A few among the total 42 are working on a contract basis for the past 12 years, they said. MLA Yogish Bhat appealed the KMC authorities to give priority to the present contract workers while they recruit workers on a fresh contract. District Medical Officer Dr Prabhudev said the hospital has already got a government order to appoint 90 contract staff, which needs to be cancelled if the proposed MoU is signed.
Addl building for Lady Goschen
The KMC has consented to build an additional building for the Lady Goschen Hospital, said MLA N Yogish Bhat. “Our wish is that the new building would be of 30,000 sq ft area. The KMC authorities have agreed to complete the project within a year,” he said. Minister Ramachandra Gowda too said there is a severe shortage of space and staff at the hospital. Earlier submitting a memorandum to the minister, the staff at Lady Goschen said the 260-bedded hospital has only 22 staff nurses, but it needs at least 90. As per rules, there should be 1:1 staff at the neonatal ICU and 3:1 for general patients. But in the present condition, the ratio is 60:1, they said.
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