Belthangady, April 26: The private doctors of the Taluk will be called in a conference and it will be discussed with them whether their services can be availed of in Government hospital. A first step in this direction will be taken in Belthangady taluk and this will be carried on to other taluks encompassing the state. This procedure was outlined by U.T. Khader, state health minister.
He was speaking at a state level progress analysis meeting in a public hospital in Belthangady taluk. “Talks will be held with medical colleges and on a temporary basis doctors will be appointed,” he said. Taking this as a starting point this will extended to encompass the whole state. He said at the present time there is no program to construct new hospitals or to elevate the status of existing hospitals. We are keener on supplementing the doctor strength and raising the worker strength added the minister.
In a Government hospital where 11 doctors are supposed to be in attendance only one doctor is making the rounds. The Government hospital though elevated to the scale of a 100 bed hospital has not made any improvement in health. The hospital authorities told this to the state health minister. The minister made the proposal of bringing in the private doctors in government hospitals.
“In case the endosulfan unfortunates die, their families will be given compensation,” had been stated by the District commissioner. Taking the DC to task the health minister said without weighing the pros and cons such things should not be spoken. So a study must be made under the leadership of the minister in charge of the district and a chosen group of individuals. The minister scoffed at the district commissioner for his words. He said the Government is thinking of improving the lot of the endo unfortunates by giving compensation to those who are alive and improving their lot rather than giving to those who are dead. He said in case one wants to give compensation more than anything else to those who died he made a general mention of the crores of rupees coming to the DC account and he said we can put this money in banks and from the interest realised to give compensation .
Karnataka health and family welfare program had schemed up a 3.98 crore investment for a 100 bed hospital in Belthangady which is now ready and is slated for inauguration at the end of May said the health officials. Vasanth Bangera the local MLA wanted more doctors and more health workers to be posted. He wanted these vacancies to be filled at the earliest.
The health minister wanted renovation of the hospital mortuary. The health workers employed by outside contractors are not being paid at par with hospital workers and are being cheated said the local MLA. While the Government record shows that a worker is paid Rs 6,413/= they on questioning said they monthly they were getting Rs 3844/=. On further investigation they said the outside labour contractor himself gives them their monthly salaries and we have no knowledge about this said the hospital officials. “Do something quickly about this” said the minister to the officials. The health department is responsible for equal wages for equal work.
Also present were health and family welfare ministry director Dr. Geeta Nyamegowda, Ayush department director Dr. Vijaykumar, Dr. Sadhana, district health director Shivakumar, , taluk health director Kalamadhu, Dr. Aadhum, Zilla Panchayat member Shailesh Kumar, and many health ministry members were among them.
