Private hospitals should display rate card, says Minister Khader

Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said if all private hospitals display rate cards it would help patients in availing transparent medical service.

Speaking at a media interaction programme at Patrika Bhavan here on Friday, he said that private hospitals must display their rate cards so that people from all sections, can undergo treatment in a transparent way.

He directed District Health Officer Srirangappa to submit a report in this regard within three months. The appointment of doctors to all government hospitals in the State is being carried out. If doctors choose to stay in rented houses, instead of quarters, the department will pay for the rent. He meanwhile said the idea of repairing the quarters was economically not viable.
Khader said for 381 general doctors’ post as many as 2,500 applications had been submitted, while for 87 dentists post, 3,500 applications had been submitted. The government has completed the preparation towards the appointment of 963 specialists, Khader added.

The government has ordered one-year compulsory rural service to the doctors. There is a plan to release Rs 200-crore grant towards the same. The present government will be paying the highest salary to the doctors. Health insurance will be provided at eight multispecialty hospitals for the poor, he said.

The health minister directed the authorities concerned to convene Raksha committee meeting, headed by the MLA of the region, at all government hospitals. He further said that medical college in Madikeri would be inaugurated soon. The generic drug shops at taluk centres should cater to the consumers round the clock. Two doctors will be appointed to all primary health centres in the district, Khader said. The minister paid a visit to the government hospital and listened to the woes of the public.

He held a discussion with medical officers regarding the upgrading of dialysis centre. As patients who have been availing the dialysis facilities are more, measures will be taken to provide two extra beds and extra equipment, he said and advised to instal a TV in the dialysis ward as patients spend seven hours undergoing the dialysis. Khader also directed the medical officers to avail the service of medical staff from other hospitals in the wake of staff shortage.

Terming the bandh call, given by opposition parties, as an insult to Dr S Radhakrishnan and teachers, the minister said that the opposition should have selected any other day for the bandh.

KPCC member K P Chandrakala, district Congress minority unit president Yakoob, ZP CEP Koorma Rao were present among others.