Kerala to reconstitute hospital panels with mandatory SC/ST, women representation

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 8 (PTI) The Kerala government has decided to reconstitute Hospital Development Committees and Hospital Development Societies in all state-run hospitals, making representation for SC/ST and women mandatory, Minister K Muralidharan said on Wednesday. The SC/ST and women members will serve as government representatives on the committees in hospitals ranging from Family Health Centres to Medical Colleges, the minister said in a statement here. Muralidharan said he had directed the health department’s principal secretary to take the necessary steps to implement the decision. “It is the first decision of its kind in history,” Muralidharan said. “The health department’s move is part of the government’s policy of ensuring the inclusion of SC/ST communities and women,” he said. Under the new structure, the district collector will head the committees, while the hospital superintendent will serve as the secretary. Other members will include a representative of the health department, the district representative of the minister, a representative of the local MP, the local MLA, and the chairperson of the concerned local self-government institution. “The government’s initiative is aimed at improving hospital development and ensuring better treatment for patients,” the minister said. PTI TGB SSK