In a major effort to spur growth of healthcare in the state, the Karnataka government has allocated Rs.6,645 crore to ensure overall growth of the sector. The state has also approved its own Arogya Karnataka Yojana or the Universal Health Coverage which is expected to be kicked off this month.
It will be implemented in the entire State by the end of this year in order to make available primary and specific secondary and tertiary treatment to all people of the State. It is a replication of the Union government’s 'Modicare' health insurance.
There will be 9,000 health and wellness centers set up by upgrading the existing sub-centers for every 5,000 population in rural areas during the next 7 years to provide high quality comprehensive primary healthcare services. The focus is on reproductive and child health and on prevention of illness and promotes well-being in the community. 571 centres will be established during 2018-19, stated Karantaka chief minister Siddaramaiah in his state budget presentation recently.
Among the new schemes for the year are the efforts to strengthen the reproductive and child health services, to reduce the current rate of infant and maternal mortality. In the primary healthcare stage itself, non-epidemic diseases will be detected early by using specific technology and will be treated. In this way, treatment will be made available at low cost without burdening the government and patients, he added.
All major district and taluka hospitals shall be certified under NABH to improve quality of health services. Public accountability will be enhanced by displaying the number of out-patients, in-patients and child births in the public domain daily.
A State Health Council will be set up with mandate of recommending health sector policy and programme options to the government, keeping an oversight on performance and effectiveness of public health institutions and overseeing effective implementation of Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act (KPME Act).
Mental healthcare programme shall be reoriented to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of patients with mental illness during delivery of mental healthcare and services in line with the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
The Karnataka Integrated Public Health Policy 2017 has been implemented envisaging attainment of the highest possible level of good health and well-being of all people in the State through a preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare orientation. The specific measures have been taken during the last five years by strengthening government hospitals to provide quality of health services.
By increasing assistance by two and half times, Rs.342 crore has been provided to provide free drugs to the public. Bed capacity has been increased by 2,900 beds in government hospitals. An amount of Rs.1,429 crore has been spent to construct 949 new buildings and renovation of 306 buildings. 20 MCH hospitals and 150 primary health extension clinics have been established. Medical equipments have been supplied at Rs.310 crore.
Sharing the achievements of last five years, the Karnataka chief minister stated that while recruitment is in progress, 2,316 specialists and 2,805 doctors have been appointed on direct recruitment. Number of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) increased to 39,000 from 30,000. An amount of Rs.2540 crore has been spent to provide secondary and tertiary health care service to 11.3% persons. 171 dialysis units have been established in district and taluka hospitals. CT scan and MRI facilities have been provided in 30 district hospitals.