Tie-up with private hospitals will only improve services: Health department

Mangaluru: The department of health and family welfare has received govt approval to enter into agreements with private institutions for Belthangady Taluk Hospital, Bantwal Taluk Hospital, Moodubidire Health Centre and Vittal Community Centre. However, certain organisations are spreading negative information regarding the initiative, the health department stated.To strengthen the public healthcare system at the grassroots level and provide rural populations with access to specialist medical services, a proposal was submitted to collaborate with reputed medical colleges. Under this memorandum of understanding (MoU), private medical colleges will provide skilled specialists, paramedical staff, additional medical personnel and advanced medical equipment to govt hospitals. The direct benefit of this initiative will reach the public, who will be able to access specialist treatment and advanced diagnostic facilities locally and free of cost.The administrative control of these health centres will remain with the department of health and family welfare, while private institutions will only provide medical services. No govt institution or property is being sold, the department clarified.Already, District Wenlock Hospital and Govt Lady Goschen Hospital have entered into an MoU with KMC Hospital. Compared with other district hospitals in the state, Wenlock Hospital now offers high-quality, super-speciality-level services, including access to skilled specialists and paramedical staff, free of cost. While such services are expensive in the private sector, they are available free at Wenlock Hospital. Patients from 10 to 15 neighbouring districts, as well as from the neighbouring Kerala, are availing themselves of these services.A Cath Lab facility for heart-related treatments was introduced at Wenlock Hospital six months ago, and so far, 741 patients have benefited from it. Under the National Health Mission, the Ullal Health Centre functions as an Urban Community Health Centre. Before entering into an agreement with a private hospital, it recorded an average of 46 patients per day. Now, with the availability of specialist services, the centre caters to 400 to 500 patients daily, all receiving free treatment.Given the improved services under the existing public-private partnership model, the state govt has decided to extend similar agreements with other hospitals to ensure free, high-quality healthcare services for the public, district health officials stated in a release.DYFI accuses minister of spreading misinformationThe Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has accused the health minister of spreading false information on the govt's decision to enter into MoUs with private institutions. DYFI said the govt's statement branding criticism as "misleading" was childish and aimed at diverting attention from growing opposition in the district.Recalling the winter session in Belagavi last Dec, the organisation said the minister had assured that vacancies of specialist doctors, nurses and pharmacists in primary, community and taluk hospitals would be filled within a month, and that a committee under Dr Himanshu Bhushan would recommend locations for new health centres. DYFI alleged that the minister has since taken a U-turn by promoting the public-private partnership model, said district secretary Santosh Bajal.
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