Government to take steps to reduce treatment cost: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday said that the government will take steps to reduce the high cost of health care. He said the government was seriously considering regulating the treatment cost. Steps will be taken to make medicines available at a reasonable price. The chief minister was inaugurating LDF’s second mission ‘Ardram’ which seeks to bring about ground breaking changes in the health care facilities in the state. He said the mission was aimed at making government hospitals people-friendly, ensuring affordable health care facilities to all sections and converting primary health centres into family health centres.

Medical colleges will be upgraded with super speciality facilities, he added. Health minister K.K. Shailaja said super speciality facilities would be provided in district and taluk hospitals. The primary health centres will function as family health centres. Modernised registration system will be implemented in OP wings to reduce the rush, token system in government hospitals and consultation rooms to ensure privacy of patients.

The facilities at the casualty wing, IP wing, diagnostic laboratories, pharmacy, labor room, operation theatre will be upgraded as per the norms laid down for these services. Health care facilities at district, taluk, block and panchayat level health centres will be reorganised. The government is planning to provide universal training to doctors and health care workers to update them on the latest developments besides protocol for treatment.