Health Minister promises more facilities in medical college hospitals in Kerala

The government is looking at proposals regarding the staff pattern revision in hospitals under the Health department and a decision on the same would be adopted without delay, Health Minister K. Muraleedharan said in the House on Monday.

Replying to a calling attention motion moved by BJP legislator V. Muraleedharan on the need to improve facilities at the primary and secondary care level and reduce overcrowding in medical colleges, the Minister said the government was exploring how more facilities could be created in medical colleges so that patients did not have to be accommodated on the floor or made to share hospital beds.

Using CSR funds

Mr. K. Muraleedharan said that more space needed to be identified so that the additional in-patients — over and above the bed strength — could be accommodated. Idling facilities and resources would be identified in medical colleges for this purpose. He said that the government was actively soliciting CSR funds from institutions and companies so that public hospitals could be renovated.

Steps were being taken to reduce instances of medical negligence through the strict implementation of surgical protocols. Hospitals have been asked to focus on hygiene and infection control practices and setting up of community kitchens were being considered so that food from outside was not brought into hospitals.

Epidemic calendar

As for the control of infectious diseases, the government had appointed an expert committee to prepare an epidemic calendar and chart an infectious diseases prevention plan. Control measures were being adopted at present on the basis of the preliminary recommendations of the said committee.

All health-care personnel were being put through orientation classes and training on communication with patients. In medical colleges, a faculty member and a nurse with communication training would be engaged to communicate with the families of patients.

Mr. K. Muraleedharan said that the administrative impasse in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation had affected the waste management and cleanliness activities in the district. Local self-governments had been asked to focus on health and sanitation activities so that infectious diseases prevention activities could be sustained.