Mangalore : The district administration on Tuesday June 10, has signed for a agreement with seven private hospitals to provide cashless treatment facility for endosulfan victims in Dakshina Kannada. It will sign similar agreements with 11 more over the next few days. The government will also bear the complete cost of treatment of the victim.

The representatives from KMC Hospital, Fr Muller Hospital, A J Hospital, Srinivas Hospital, KSHEMA, Yenepoya Hospital and Omega hospital exchanged the MoU with Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim in the presence of Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader and District Health Officer H.S. Shivakumar at DC office.

Speaking after signing the agreement Health Minister U.T. Khader said a total 700 beneficiaries will be provided ID cards as per the agreement. The government considered bringing the victims under the Vajpayee Aroyashri and Yeshasvini Health schemes and meeting the health expenses. Cashless treatment was among the assurances made by the government before the Karnataka High Court.

Dr. Shivakumar said endosulfan victims who had been issued smart cards could avail this service.

The victims would first have to approach the nearest primary health centre and then they she would be referred to the District Hospital. “If the ailment requires specalised treatment not available at the government hospital, he or she will be referred by the PHC doctor to the private hospital,” he said.

Mr. Khader said endosulfan victims having any problems about relief measures of the government were free to approach the district level executive committee headed by District In-charge Minister and the implementation committee headed by Deputy Commissioner. There will be no charges for bringing the ailing endosulfan victim from his house to the hospital he/she was referred, he added.

The government also signed a MOU with the K.S. Hegde Medical Academy for setting up of a 20-bed rehabilitation centre for mentally ill patients.

Such centres have come up in three districts and one in Mangalore will be the fourth centre. A meeting was being called in Shimoga on June 16 to review progress of having such centres in other district centres.