THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government is for forming a Health Task Force at the ward level to address the healthcare services and prevention of diseases at the grassroot level.
Noting that the task force formed as part of the Comprehensive Primary Healthcare Programme would bring a sweeping change in the health sector, Health Minister K K Shylaja said that the government was for a ‘Janakiya Arogya Mission’ (People’s Health Mission) modelled on the people’s planning.
The task force would comprise 25 members, including health workers, Kudumbashree members, NGOs, ward members, retired health workers, health standing committee members of local bodies, political party leaders and other volunteers, she said.
Stressing that the government’s aim was to provide the best treatment to the people at affordable cost, she said that treatment would not be denied to any patient for want of money. Despite having much financial burden, the government is for providing the best treatment to all, she added.
Admitting that there was a shortfall of doctors, she said that the government was for revising the age old staff pattern and more posts would be created in the health sector. She also maintained that efforts were on to attract doctors in the government sector.
Referring to Aardram mission, the Minister said that it would change the health sector in the state. She also noted that the infrastructure of district hospitals needed a revamp. ‘’All this was only because of improper planning. We have asked the district hospitals to prepare a master plan for renovating the existing infrastructure,’’ she said. Shylaja also said that the sub-centres at the ward level would be given a new face with renovation of the centres wherever needed. The government is also envisaging various programmes from the sub centre- level, focusing on prevention.
LSGD Minister K T Jaleel said that the local bodies would provide the necessary infrastructure facilities and it was for the Health Department to provide the required staff. He was also of the opinion that funds can be raised from people, especially the rich, for improving the infrastructure of primary and community health centres.
Meanwhile, a workshop on Comprehensive Primary Health Care is being held here for giving training to doctors and other health workers.
The workshop would look into ways of improving health service at the grassroot-level and also how to get involved in the development projects of LSGDs.
Pvt hospitals
Noting that the government was aware of the hardships faced by the patients in private hospitals due to the demonetisation drive, Shylaja said that it was helpless. ‘’A lot of people call up to say that old notes are not being taken at private hospitals. We can only ask them to take the notes but cannot force them,’’ she said. She said that patients were not only getting discharged but they were not able to buy medicines at private hospitals because of the present crisis.