MANGALORE: The state government is planning to conduct free blood pressure check-up camps for people above 30 once in a year.
Minister for health and family welfare U T Khader made this announcement on Monday after inaugurating a new building of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Kudupu. The PHC in Kudupu was established in 1981 and the new building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 1.02 crore.
Khader said the government is keen on preventing and eradicating diseases. Criticizing the negligence of government hospitals, Khader said, “officials maintain cleanliness only during my visit to hospitals. To keep tab on hospitals and ensure cleanliness and good services to patients, taluk panchayat, zilla panchayat and gram panchayat members will be given training on how to inspect hospitals,” he said.
Around 400 group-D employees’ posts are vacant in hospitals. The government has selected 2,600 candidates for group-D employees’ posts and these candidates are yet to get their appointment order.
“Around 1,000 medical staff have applied for transfer giving reason that their family members are not feeling well. Doctors should not give that kind of reasons (for transfers),” Khader said.
On providing ambulances to PHCs, he said earlier the government was providing one ambulance for every one lakh people, now it has been decided to provide one ambulance for every 50,000 people in the state.
Doctors to be appointed
Around 300 posts of doctors are vacant. The government will recruit doctors, who have completed MBBS on temporary basis by providing them Rs 30,000 salary per month and for doctors, who have completed postgraduates (PG), will be given Rs 60,000 to Rs 65,000 salary per month. PG doctors, who work in north Karnataka region, will be given Rs 80,000 per month, the minister said.
When asked about upgrading primary health centres to community health centres, Khader said the government does not want to spend money on upgrading it. “We are focused on improving the existing centres like filling up of vacant medical staff and installing necessary equipment,” he added.
