Mangaluru : Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said that to overcome the problem of shortage of doctors in government hospitals and PHCs, the state government has decided to hire retired specialist doctors on contract basis.

Speaking in a press meet in circuit house here on Monday, November 24, he said that retired doctors who are within 65 year old will be hired. Gynaecologist, anesthesiologist, paediatricians will be hired and will be paid a honorarium of Rs 50,000. “If they are ready to work on hourly basis, then they will be given retainer of Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,500 per day for gynaecologist, Rs 1,000 for anesthesiologist and Rs 500 for paediatrician. If they are ready to work in out patient ward under KHSRDP scheme, then they will be paid Rs 1,000 per day.”

“In fact, MLA Chincholi had appealed to the Health and Family Welfare Department to allow him to serve patients in the government hospital in his constituency during his free time at free of cost. There are nine physician MLAs in the State. With the government order, even they can serve if they wish to do so. Deputy Commissioners of each district has been empowered to recruit the specialist doctors on a contract basis,” he added.

“To overcome the shortage of radiologists in the State, the government is planning to start radiology telemedicine system, wherein radiologist call centre will be set up. The technicians will be trained to scan patients in government hospitals and send the report online to the radiologists at the call centre. The radiologist in turn will give suggestions to the patients after going through the report,” he added.

The Minister said the State government will upgrade its fleet of Arogya Kavacha ambulances by adding 198 more vehicles from Wednesday. Ninety eight ambulances have been purchased under the state budgetary allocations and 100 ambulances from the central government which was sanctioned during the previous UPA government’s tenure.

Dakshina Kannada district will get 10 ambulances under the scheme. The ambulances will be placed at Talapady, Pumpwell, Mudipu, Natekal, Mani, Siddakatte, Sampaje, Haleyangadi, Kumbra and Kokkada. The Udupi district will get five ambulances to Hebri, Brahmavar, Baindur, Belman and Kaup.

Stating that there are 583 ambulances in the State, the Minister said that the government has decided to earmark one ambulance to population of 70,000, so that it can reach the patient within 15 to 17 minutes. Those ambulances that have covered more than five lakh kilometre will be discarded. So every year, 150 ambulances will be purchased to replace the old one.

He said that under National Rural Health Mission, the salary of the contract staff both doctors and para medical staff have been hiked by 10 per cent. The salary of those serving in Hyderabad-Karnataka region have been hiked by 30 per cent.

A meeting to discuss on how to improve the existing building of Wenlock hospital will be held on November 29. A team from the state will visit Wenlock hospital. A semi -ICU with 10 ventillators will be inaugurated on December 5. At the same time, a sewage treatment plant would come up at the hospital premises for the effective disposal of waste generated from the hospital.

The recycled water will be used for gardens. The existing mortuary has been converted into a model one by providing basic facilities including drinking water, toilets and seating arrangement for the kin of the deceased.

Stating that Kambala is the tradition of the land, the Minister said that there was no question of banning it. “It is the responsibility of the Centre to convince the Supreme Court to review its ban order. MPs from undivided Dakshina Kannada district should impress upon Minister Maneka Gandhi by giving facts on Kambala in the region. We want Kambala to continue.”