The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Kumaraswamy: hospitals will not face shortage of essential drugs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 12, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kumaraswamy: hospitals will not face shortage of essential drugs

Staff Reporter

Salaries of nurses in government hospitals to be increased

NEW PROJECT: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (right), Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa (centre) and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna at the function to lay the foundation stone for construction of new buildings at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hosp ital in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Bangalore: The State Government had taken steps to ensure that essential drugs were available round-the-clock at all government hospitals, especially at Victoria and Bowring and Lady Curzon hospitals, at subsidised rates, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said here on Friday.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for construction of new buildings at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital under the first phase of the modified master plan to upgrade the hospital.

He said steps had been taken to ensure that there was no shortage of medicines in hospitals.

Four buildings, including in-patient block of the hospital, additional floors in the M.S. Building, residential quarters for staff and hostel for postgraduate students, would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 42 crore in the first phase.

He said that the Government would also raise the salaries of nurses in all public hospitals, subsequent to the decision to increase the stipend of junior doctors in Bangalore Medical College.

He also assured that the BDA Block at the Bowring Hospital, which was inaugurated a few days ago, would get the necessary equipment shortly.

Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok announced that the Government would recognise the doctors and paramedical staff in government hospitals who were doing exceptional work and they would be felicitated from this year onwards.

He warned doctors and paramedical staff that they should not make patients run from pillar to post and make them visit several hospitals. "Stringent action would be taken against medical personnel who harass patients and play with their lives. We will look out for media reports on apathy in government hospitals and action will be taken against staff responsible for this," he said.

He said that the Government had revised the list of essential drugs kept in government hospitals and 840 medicines would now be available for the benefit of patients.

Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya said that the Government was working towards giving autonomous status to Bangalore Medical College and Mysore Medical College. "The fees for medical course has already been reduced and we have increased the stipend given to house surgeons and junior doctors (specialists). Steps would be taken to increase the salary of all the medical and paramedical staff in government hospitals," he said.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum drew the attention of the Ministers to the shortage of staff in Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. "There is a shortage of anaesthetists in the hospital and only four surgeries are conducted in a day. There are nine ambulances but only two drivers. Vacancies should be filled," she said.

She announced that she would fund the construction of a "Dharamshala" on the hospital premises from the Mayor's fund.

Minister for Major Industries Katta Subramanya Naidu and Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna were present.

When Ministers were talking of various programmes, there was one announcement with a difference: the former Bangalore Police Commissioner H.T. Sangliana, MP, announced at the function that he would institute a Rolling Trophy and it would be awarded to the "most smiling doctor and nurse" in government service.

"We should always serve people with a smile," he added.

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