Kerala - Kollam   

Health care infrastructure poor in Kollam: report

KOLLAM: The government sector health care infrastructure in Kollam is poor, according to the Integrated District Development Plan (IDDP) report for the district prepared by the District Planning Committee. The report was released by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac at a function here recently.

As per the report Kollam comes eleventh in the State based on beds per lakh of population in the government sector.

Inpatient facilities are not available in government hospitals (public health centres (PHCs)) at Aryankavu, Thenmala, Melila, Vettikavala, Vilakudy, Kulathupuzha, Pattazhy, Vadakekara, Kulakada, Thalavoor, Mylom and Alayamon.

But, there is an obvious increase in the number of patients in the district over the years. Kollam has a high rate of respiratory diseases, standing at 87 per cent of the diseases reported. Incidence of tuberculosis is among the lowest in the district.

Hepatitis A has been listed as the most life threatening disease in the district. Bronchial asthma is the major occupational disease, found among cashew workers, majority of whom are women. The report states that in the allopathic sector there is low bed strength in the district, taluk and block level hospitals.

Doctors and staff are inadequate in all these hospitals. Even the district hospital lacks advanced diagnostic facilities. The report points out the absence of super specialty facilities in Punalur.

It calls upon the allopathic sector to give special attention to the tribal and coastal areas in view of the frequent outbreaks of vector borne diseases. Staff pattern should be rearranged in all government hospitals according to patient strength. It is also important to make available the latest investigating facilities at the government sector hospitals.

In the ayurvedic sector, though there are many postgraduate degree holders, the specialties of ayurveda are not effectively implemented, it says. There is a lack of skilled and trained staff. Four ayurveda hospitals in the district do not even have a pharmacist.

The report calls upon the homoeopathy sector to concentrate more on public health and preventive aspects of communicable diseases.

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