Bangaloreans could look forward for access to modern health care within their economic reach in 2013 as the city could see the setting up of hi-tech hospitals in each zone of BBMP limits under the 12th Five Year Plan.
Principal secretary to health and family welfare department, M Madan Gopal said that the government on Friday held a meeting with civil society groups and government agencies to finalise the draft on setting up these hospitals with the capacity of over 100 beds each with diagnosis, laboratory, counselling, dialysis and other modern facilities in all the eight zones of BBMP.
He explained that this would be done under National Urban Health Mission which is part of the 12th Five Year Plan.
“The health services in these hospitals will be free for people belonging to below poverty line (BPL) families and it would be made available to for Above Poverty Line (APL) card holders at nominal cost. The central government has asked us to provide the draft plan with no limit on expenditure to establish these hospitals,” he said.
Besides this, the mission also allows the state government to establish 28 hospitals with the capacity of 30 to 100 beds in each of the 28 assembly constituencies of Bangalore. These hospitals will have the facilities of taluk-level hospitals. “Apart from this, the mission also gives scope to establish hospitals in all the 198 wards of the city with diagnosis, laboratory and counseling facilities,” he explained.
Initially, the project will be taken up in Bangalore, and later it will be replicated in other cities of the state. Though there is no limit on the expenses, the state will make plans within the budget of ` 150 crore to ` 200 crore.
“BBMP hospitals will be expanded and modernised, hence at this point, the fund is sufficient. Every year, the Union government spends ` 1,000 crore on rural health services,” he said.
It was also decided to include the members of Stree Shakti Groups, corporators and MLAs for better management of the health centres. The health centres will have the reserve funds of ` 5,000 to ` 5 lakh per year, he added.
The BBMP will issue health smart cards and the cardholders will be treated free of charge. Union cabinet’s approval is expected on this proposal in January. inbox@dnaindia.net
