Kerala - Alappuzha   

People complain of shortage of doctors, medicines in hospitals

Staff Reporter

Chief Minister promises free ration for chikungunya-affected

ALAPPUZHA: The representatives of people of various grama panchayats and block panchayats in the district complained to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan of shortage of doctors, medicines and technicians at the Government hospitals in the district at a meeting at Cherthala on Wednesday.

The meeting of representatives of people, officials of Health Department and other top officials was held as part of the visit of Mr. Achuthanandan to the Muhamma primary health centre and Cherthala Taluk Hospital where hundreds of chikungunya patients were admitted.

Briefing mediapersons, the Chief Minister admitted that representatives of people complained of shortage of staff and medicine. Mr. Achuthanandan said everything would be set right.

He said more staff would be appointed in Government hospitals. But he did not divulge details. The meeting which began as an open session was later converted to a closed session. While mediapersons were initially invited inside the meeting hall, later the Chief Minister asked them to vacate the place.

While loudspeakers were placed outside the venue initially, they were disconnected later. In the end, the Chief Minister briefed mediapersons of the proceedings at the meeting.

Mr. Achuthanandan hinted that free rations would be given to the families of chikungunya-affected for a fixed period.

He said the details of the free ration scheme would be finalised at a meeting of the Cabinet that would be held on Thursday.

The Chief Minister said the Government would soon take a decision on aid to be given to the kin of those who died in the district of suspected chikungunya.

On questions regarding deputing a Minister to oversee relief work regarding the chikungunya outbreak, Mr. Achuthanandan said that was a wily demand of the Opposition, which if conceded would mean that Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy had failed. He said Ms. Sreemathy would visit the district occasionally to supervise the relief work.

On the deaths of persons afflicted with fever in the Cherthala taluk, Mr. Achuthanandan said doctors said there were no deaths due to chikungunya and the deaths of persons affected by chikungunya were because of other chronic diseases.

He said he asked the doctors whether those persons who died of chronic diseases would have met an early death if they were not afflicted with chikungunya.

The Chief Minister arrived at the Muhamma primary health centre at around 2.30 p.m. He visited the wards along with officials.

Meanwhile, local people complained that the Government had not taken any step to keep the pharmacy of the hospital open at night. They said it was very difficult for the public to get medicines.

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