The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Emergency care units at taluk hospitals soon, says Minister

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Emergency care units at taluk hospitals soon, says Minister

Staff Reporter

Health Department conducts meeting to address complaints from the public

People-friendly: Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy at the Nedumangad taluk hospital on Wednesday as part of a grievances redressal programme.

Thiruvananthapuram: The government proposes to launch casualty and emergency care units at all major taluk headquarters hospitals, as soon as the speciality-administrative cadre for doctors is implemented in the Health Service.

If not in all hospitals, at least in major government hospitals which are situated by the national highways, four-member casualty units will be set up soon.

“This will be possible as specialist doctors posted at various healthcare institutions are re-located to major hospitals when the speciality-administrative cadre is implemented, Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy said.

She was replying to a complaint that the Chirayinkeezh taluk hospital did not have a casualty unit, at a meeting of people’s representatives, the public and medical officers in the district, on the Nedumangad taluk hospital premises on Wednesday.

The meeting was part of a mammoth exercise by the Health Department to collect complaints regarding the facilities and services in hospitals from the public, which would be directly taken up by the Minister.

Boxes were set up at all hospitals across the district ten days back for the public to deposit complaints.

At the meeting, the institution-wise complaints were read out. The Minister, Health Secretary and all senior department officials and heads of hospitals were present to reply to the complaints and to explain the action taken.

200 complaints

Over 200 complaints had been received in the district, most of which pertained to lack of patient amenities, demand for posting more doctors and for starting inpatient facilities.

She made it clear that the government had no intention of starting new inpatient units at primary health centres as according to the Indian Public Health Standards, PHCs were not meant to have IP units.

The department intended to review facilities in all hospitals and doctors or specialists would be posted only on the basis of the existing infrastructure.

It was pointed out that all medical shops around the W&C Hospital at Thycaud downed shutters early causing hardships to patients. Ms. Sreemathy replied that the government was in the process of signing an MoU with Hindustan Lifecare Ltd to start a 24-hour pharmacy at the hospital.

There were complaints about the behaviour of security staff at Medical College Hospital.

However, Ms. Sreemathy said that the government was in the process of making the MCH truly referral and restricted entry for visitors was a conscious decision taken in this regard.

She added that while the ‘misbehaviour’ of security staff would be addressed, they should not be blamed for implementing the rules strictly.

The modernised labour room and conference hall at the Nedumangad taluk hospital was inaugurated on the occasion.

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