Date:11/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/11/stories/2007021110530300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Changes in health policy: Sreemathy

Staff Reporter

Services of private doctors to be utilised

Company to be formed for procurement of medicines

Meeting of private hospital managements to be convened

ALAPPUZHA: The State Government is planning decisive changes in the health policy to upgrade the public health system, Minister for Health P.K. Sreemathy said here on Saturday.

Inaugurating the All-Kerala Obstetrics and Gynaecology Congress here, she said the proposed changes included seeking the help of doctors from private hospitals to overcome the shortcomings of Government hospitals and formation of a company for the procurement of medicines.

Ms. Sreemathy said the superintendents of Government hospitals could seek the help of doctors from nearby private hospitals on the basis of a special arrangement for dealing with cases. The move would be especially relevant in the case of gynaecologists, whose shortage was troubling Government hospitals.

The arrangement would be beneficial for both doctors and society. The doctors would be paid for their services and the public could utilise their expertise. The Government would sanction sufficient funds for the purpose.

She said the Government would convene a meeting of managements of private hospitals by the last week of February to finalise the move.

The Minister said the Government would form a company to buy medicines for the Government hospitals. It would be part of the new medicine policy of the Government.

She conceded that there were allegations of corruption in buying medicines. The new company would make purchases transparent. The Government would introduce a new policy regarding doctors in Government service. But she did not elaborate on the matter.

Ms. Sreemathy said NABARD had sanctioned an aid of Rs. 30 crore for upgrading Kottayam, Alappuzha and Thrissur Government medical colleges. The sum would be equally divided among them. The Union Government had approved a Rs. 50-crore project it promised for the development of the Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Kozhikode.

She said the Government was trying hard to increase the number of postgraduate seats in medical colleges in the State. Vacancies of nurses in medical colleges and other Government hospitals had been filled 115 doctors newly recruited to Government service, she added.