Bengaluru: Minister for Health and Family Welfare K R Ramesh Kumar said on Thursday the government would take measures to open dialysis centres at all taluks within three months.
Replying a question from Kona Reddy of JD(S) during the Question Hour in the Assembly, Minister Ramesh Kumar said the proposed dialysis centres would be opened at all taluks under public private partnership (PPP) model. “Tenders have been floated to invite bidders for opening dialysis centres. The process is expected to be completed in three months. The Department of Health has already signed an agreement with private companies to open dialysis centres at 20 government district hospitals and three main hospitals,’’ Minister Ramesh Kumar said.
The minister said the government could not open dialysis centres at all taluk hospitals due to the shortage of funds. “Now, there is no shortage for funds. The government has joined hands with private companies to ensure these dialysis centres functioning without any hassles,’’ the minister said
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He said the government has provided two dialysis machines to one taluk hospital in each district during the last three years and now the government would provide three dialysis machines to each taluk hospital. “The government has taken measures to supply dialysis machines to 114 taluk hospitals during the year 2017-18. The government has also decided to upgrade Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru on par with Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital in Bengaluru and Rs 3 crore has been allocated for this purpose,’’ he said.
Answering a query from Koratagere JD(S) MLA Sudharkar, the minister has assured him to take measures for repairing of primary health centre buildings in Koratagere Assembly segment and provide basic infrastructure for the primary health centres.
Committed to open PHCs
Minister Ramesh Kumar has said the government is committed to open primary health centres. Answering a query from MLA P Rajeev during the Question House, the minister said the government wanted to open one primary health centre for 30,000 population. “As per Medical Council of India, one primary health centres should be opened for every 30,000 population in densely populated areas and one primary health centre for every 20,000 population at tribal and other backward areas. These guidelines were not followed while opening in Mysore region by opening more primary health centres. The North Karnataka region is neglected by opening less number of primary health centres. The government is committed to set right this anomaly,’’ the minister said.
MLA Rajeev has appealed the minister to open seven more primary health centres in his assembly constituency. “I want the minister has to give importance to this issue,’’ he said.
