Bangalore: The Centre had sanctioned a centre for virology for the State to conduct research on various diseases and viral infections including dengue and chikungunya, Minister for Health and Family Welfare R. Ashok said here on Thursday.

Answering questions about the Government's plans to tackle the widespread menace of chikungunya and dengue at an interactive session organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Ashok said the virology research centre would be housed at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) here. As part of the Suvarna Karnataka, 100 hospitals in the State would be upgraded. The Government would soon recruit 500 specialist doctors on a contract basis. In rural areas, where specialist doctors might not be available, Ayurveda doctors would be appointed, he said.

New law

He said that to control quacks, the Government would introduce the Private Nursing Homes Bill. "There are 5,000 or more quacks in the State," Mr. Ashok said.

To a suggestion on having insurance coverage for poor families, Mr. Ashok said the Government was in the process of finalising the company that would provide insurance coverage to poor families under a State Government scheme.

Open drains

R.C. Purohit, FKCCI president, said that open drains were a breeding ground for diseases and they should be covered.

He turned the Minister's attention to garbage accumulation in APMC yards and improper dumping of vegetable waste.

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