Thiruvananthapuram: With the state requiring a complete revamp of the entire health sector, the high level panel headed by Dr B Ekbal is undertaking an exhaustive exercise to seek valuable inputs from various organisations, experts and individuals. To begin with the panel will have a four day sitting in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 28, 29 and 30 to hear suggestions of various organisations. Professional organisations, specialist organizations, IMA, KGMOA, KGMCTA, individuals, insurance agencies and representatives of private hospitals have been invited to give their valuable input for formulating the health policy.
The four day sitting will be followed by another round of zonal meetings to be held in Ernakulam and Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram. One and a half months period would be devoted for the whole exercise. The proposed people’s health policy is aimed at total overhaul of the health sector. Suggestions are being taken to convert primary health centres into family health centres and existing medical colleges into Centres for Excellence.
The policy will also prepare ground for implementation of Clinical Establishments Act to regulate the functioning of diagnostic laboratories ensuring high standards and unified charges. With the private sector providing almost 70 per cent of the health care facilities, the policy will try to bring them on board for epidemiological studies. At the moment the health policy makers are depending on the data supplied by 30-40 per cent public sector health institutions for finalising disease control, prevention and treatment strategy. Not to say that this data is inadequate.
The policy will also focus on a uniform treatment protocol for which it will lay emphasis on expediting the work related to electronic health record of the entire state population. A family health registry based on adhar number, which will be fully computerised, is being put in place. The idea is to have medical history and treatment record of every single individual receiving treatment in primary health centre, community health centre and hospitals.
