BELAGAVI, 11 DEC 

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, on Thursday, told the Legislative Assembly that the State government aims to ensure 24-hour service at all taluk hospitals and community health centres.

This will be achieved by ensuring the availability of the necessary number of doctors, specialists, and medical staff.

Rao for was responding to a question raised by BJP MLA Doddanagouda H Patil of Kushtagi during the Question Hour.

“Our aim is to ensure that every taluk hospital provides 24-hour service. In many places, there is only one obstetrician, one anaesthetist, and one paediatrician, but they stop working after 4pm. After that, taluk hospitals remain empty,” Rao said. “To ensure 24-hour service, we will now ensure two obstetricians, two anaesthetists, two paediatricians, one radiologist, and one physician at each taluk hospital. We want to ensure that people receive care whenever they need it.”

Rao pointed out that maternal deaths are often caused by a lack of timely medical attention. He said that the government wants community health centres (CHS) to operate round-the-clock.

“At CHCs where performance is low, if there are fewer than 30 deliveries, we will replace the gynaecologist with two MBBS doctors and a physician,” he said, adding that CHCs that stop working after 4pm will now be required to provide 24-hour service.

Karkala BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar raised a concern regarding a note issued by the health secretary on relocating specialists from CHCs with fewer than 30 deliveries, warning that this may create problems in the future.

Addressing the issue, Rao highlighted the disparity in government doctors’ work output, noting that some doctors receive salaries of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh but perform minimal duties. “Some doctors do only three to five deliveries a month, or sometimes none.” 

Rao added, “Some doctors take government salaries but practice privately. What is the point of paying them such high salaries?”

On filling vacant positions, Rao said that around 1,500 MBBS doctors are being hired under the compulsory medical service. There are also vacancies for approximately 800-900 specialist doctors. Rao further stated that permission had been granted to recruit 600 nurses, 400 lab technicians, and 400 pharmacists on a contract basis.