Indian Medical Association (IMA), Coimbatore chapter, has come out with a unique 'Free bed scheme' to give free treatment to selected patients. Under the scheme, various hospitals, under the auspices of IMA, would conduct free detection camps of various diseases and the patients selected would be given free treatment, except medicines, the Association's newly elected President, Dr S R Krishnamurthy, maintained

Giving details of other projects launched by IMA, he said it was also proposed to conduct free eye surgeries, in tie-up with leading eye hospitals in the city. Talks were being held with medical shops and pharmaceutical companies to supply free medicine for patients, being under free bed scheme, he added.

Another major programme would be setting up of satellite rural blood banks considering the increasing rate of accidents. The association would also approach voluntary organizations to assist in the programme, Dr Krishnamurthy said.

Stating that IMA was aiming at improving the doctor-patient relationship, Dr. Krishnamurthy said regular public awareness camps would be organized every month for this purpose.

IMA also submitted a proposal to Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for a medical waste disposal project, for which four entrepreneurs had been identified, he added.