Mangaluru: Speaking after inaugurating a free emergency medical service centre, set up by Unity Hospital, at Mangaluru Central Railway station on Dec 23, Sunday. Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel appealed to the private enterprises to join hands with government to upgrade railway stations and other public enterprises.

Lauding the initiative by Unity Hospital, the MP said, “The long felt need of a medical services centre has been realised finally.” He hoped that the centre would be useful to railway commuters.

The MP said that complaints from train commuters on lack of cleanliness in railway stations were not so many, as the Central government had been working on world-class railway stations.

Mangaluru Central Railway station was chosen to be upgraded as one of the world-class railway stations, during the tenure of Mamata Bannerjee as the Central Railway minister and the present government has been implementing development works in this regard. For Mangaluru, which is being developed into a smart city, smart railway station is a major component, he said.

“Also, the Niti Aayog has chosen Mangaluru as one of the destinations for Medical tourism. Mangaluru is going to play a vital role in medical tourism as the city has maximum number of hospitals and medical colleges”, he added.

Unity Hospital Chairman Dr C B Habib Rehman said that diagnosis and emergency management play vital roles in treating a patient. In a place like railway station, where there is a moving crowd, it is important to provide medical aid to patients during emergency situations, he added.

Unity Hospital Managing Director Azmal Habib, Executive Director Ashfak Habib, General Manager (Operations) Devaraj B, Southern Railways Area Officer Shridharan and Mangaluru Central Railway station Station Manager Ram Kumar were present among others.

Emergency medical service centre : The free emergency medical service centre, situated opposite to the ticket counter at the Mangaluru Railway station entrance, is equipped with a defibrillator, blood pressure check-up machine, oxygen cylinder, dressing instruments and a bed. A medical staff from Unity Hospital will be deployed at the centre.