Date:22/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/22/stories/2008082258500300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

SAT hospital to be upgraded

Special Correspondent

Photo: S. Mahinsha

Healthy measures: Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy and Law Minister M. Vijayakumar at the new waiting room of SAT hospital which was inaugurated on Thursday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister for Health P.K. Sreemathy said here on Thursday that the Sri Avittam Thirunal (SAT) hospital here would be upgraded into a model referral hospital for women and children.

Speaking after inaugurating a rest room for bystanders constructed with assistance from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), she said the modernisation of the hospital was aimed at providing better service for destitute patients.

“The construction of a new block will help to ease the difficulties faced by patients and their families. Appointment of more PG doctors and nurses has addressed the acute shortage of manpower,” she said.

The Minister said the departments of Health, Labour and Local Self Government were working in tandem to implement a health insurance scheme. She said the scheme was expected to become functional by October end.

Presiding over the function, Minister for Law M. Vijayakumar said women and children would be given priority while chalking out new plans in the health sector.

Health Secretary Viswas Mehta, NRHM director Dinesh Arora, Medical Education Director V.Geetha and SAT Hospital superintendent G.M.Ashok kumar were present.