THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ambitious Aardram Mission, aimed at converting all government hospitals into people-friendly institutions and bringing in a comprehensive change in the health sector, will be launched on Thursday.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the mission at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, said Health Minister K K Shylaja. As part it, health assemblies will be held in all primary health centres where people would be made aware of the mission’s aims and prompted to take a pledge for strengthening the PHCs in their locality.
The mission is one of the four projects under the Nava Kerala Mission launched by the Left Government.
With the out-of-pocket health expenditure on the rise in the state, Shylaja said the mission would help bring it down. Claiming the mission would bring in an overall change in the health sector, she said the government proposed to make all hospitals in the public sector patient-friendly by improving basic infrastructure. As part of making the OP department more patient-friendly, facilities for registering for appointments and a token system would be introduced. Consultation rooms where patients would have all privacy would be set up.
The mission also aims at standardisation of health institutions. The government proposes to set up cath labs and super speciality units in district hospitals in a phased manner said the Minister. Another plan is to start dialysis units in all taluk hospitals.
The government proposes to convert the PHCs into family health centres for providing quality treatment in the neighbourhood. Medical observation system, multi-purpose conference hall and a good pharmacy would be set up in each PHC. The government aims to enhance treatment facilities in primary and middle-level hospitals to reduce the rush in medical colleges.
As part of converting the PHCs into family centres, two doctors would be appointed in each centre, the Minister said. The government has selected 171 PHCs for the pilot project. The family health centres would mainly concentrate on early detection and prevention of diseases, especially lifestyle ailments. The government proposes to introduce the concept of family doctor under the mission, said Shylaja.