Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to launch mobile medical units for construction workers soon

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to soon launch 30 mobile medical units (MMUs) in Hubballi for the benefit of construction workers as part of a novel initiative by the labour department. 

While the overall plan by the Karnataka Building and other Construction Workers Board includes providing 100 MMUs to the entire state, these 30 MMUs are part of the first instalment and will likely hit the roads before year-end. 

The remaining 70 MMUs are expected to function by January third week. As per the initiative, construction workers and their family members who need immediate treatment will be treated in MMUs before they are ferried to nearby hospitals. 

Speaking to DH, Labour Minister Santosh Lad confirmed the plan and said the launch is expected by December 24-25. 

“This is a novel initiative in the entire country. A new feature of these MMUs is that photos of patients will be taken. That way, we will have a record of the total number of patients treated.”

Pointing out that each district would get 2-3 MMUs, with bigger districts like Bengaluru expected to get more, Lad said: “The 30 MMUs under the first instalment will hit the roads as soon as the chief minister inaugurates them in Hubballi later this month.” 

Department sources noted that an electronic health ecosystem would document all parameters of a patient once he/she enters the MMU. The overall scheme is expected to cost Rs 127 crore.

Each MMU will have equipment like body impedance analyser, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter, digital stethoscope, ECG device, health pod, urine analyser and so on.

While each MMU will have a team of MMBS doctors, the tests that can be conducted there include basic vitals tests (weight, height, BP, pulse, temperature, BMI), dengue, chikungunya, ESG (instant report), renal function tests, lipid profile, serum Magnesium and urine pregnancy tests. 

Sources noted that all workers taking treatment would be encouraged to create their Ayushman Bharat cards for insurance purposes.