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Speciality hospital planned at Karaikal

PUDUCHERRY: The government will provide CD4 count equipment at the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and Postgraduate Institute (IGGGH&PI) here for giving better treatment to HIV-affected persons, Health Minister E. Valsaraj told the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to the discussions on related demands, Mr. Valsaraj said the Union government had given its approval for providing the equipment to the hospital during this year.

At present, more than 500 patients were treated for HIV, he said, adding that the CD4 count equipment would help analyse the progression of HIV and to determine the anti-retroviral therapy.

Next year, the government planned to distribute smart cards to those holding health cards, he said.

Steps would be taken to network all hospitals to provide the profile of all members. The health cards had been distributed to 85 per cent of the population and the remaining beneficiaries would be covered in the coming months, he said.

Mr. Valsaraj said the government proposed to set up a speciality hospital at Karaikal at the cost of Rs 50 crore. The land for setting up the hospital had been identified, he said, adding that steps were being taken to acquire the land. The government would consider the members’ suggestion to construct the hospital on public-private partnership (PPP) mode. The government planned to establish a diabetic centre at IGGGH&PI during 2008-09, he said.

Among other initiatives proposed for the government hospital during the current year included opening of the Cath Lab, digital x-ray and installation of new equipment for removal of kidney stones.

The Minister, who also holds the portfolio on Port, Labour and Law, said the work to develop the port at Puducherry would be taken on PPP mode. The government hoped to start the work shortly after clearing all legal hurdles, he said, adding that till the work commenced dredging of the harbour would continue.

The new port being developed at Karaikal would be commissioned during 2008-09, Mr. Valsaraj said.

The government was taking steps in consultation with the Madras High Court to establish a Labour Court in Puducherry, he said.

A total of 1.92 lakh people had registered in the Employment Exchange, he said, adding that the government had initiated the process of conducting a survey to find the status of unemployed youth in Puducherry.

Stating that the government was keen on developing ITIs in the Union Territory, he said two such institutions had already been made as Centres of Excellence with the assistance of the Union government. Two more ITIs would be made as Centres of Excellence under PPP mode during the current year, he said.

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