Mangalore, May 21: U T Khader, state health and family welfare minister in the newly formed state government cabinet revealed his plans at a review meeting of the health and family welfare department officials at circuit house on May 20, Monday, his plan of introducing a health insurance scheme for all citizens without BPL or APL criteria, covering up to Rs 2 lakh for poor and middle class patients.
He said under the existing system BPL family members get a meager benefit when they are admitted to hospital and there are many people, who have no APL ration cards. Therefore he insisted for the introduction for the insurance scheme and need to cover all poor people with suitable medical insurance scheme.
He also threw a light on introducing insurance scheme for anganwadi children as there is no specific aimed at them. He supported the opening of a generic medicine unit at Lady Goschen and Wenlock hospitals, through which medicines can be sold at cheaper rates.
He also reiterated to health department officials not to succumb to lobbies of private hospitals and asked the officials to list out the areas affected by malaria and other vector-borne diseases and inform GP and peoples’ representatives. There should be strict monitoring of awareness campaign on vector-borne diseases, he opined
When the officials informed him about the state government’s decision not to open PHCs a year ago, Khader asked the copy of the order, following the decision of the cabinet to bring amendments to it.
D-K district health and family welfare officer Dr O R Srirangappa informed the minister that there was a severe shortage of staff in his department. There are only 165 staff as against the 228 staff required for the district, he added.
The minister directed Zilla panchayat officials to speed up all the works stopped during election due to the poll code.”Officials have not gone ahead with a majority of works related to road and drinking water supply even after the election” said the minister who was irked by replies from officials.
Following the complaints from ZP members on drinking water crisis, Khader ordered the officials to complete all drinking water projects.”People must benefit from projects, negligence of officials makes people suffer, he added.
