Won't abandon efforts to reform health system midway: Kerala minister

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 11 (PTI) Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan on Saturday asserted that the government would not abandon its efforts midway to reform the state's health system, saying there would be no compromise in ensuring accountability and improving public healthcare. Releasing the Health Department's 50-day progress report, the minister said the achievements listed in the report were only the beginning and that "ten times more" work remains to be completed, according to an official statement. "Nobody should think that I will get tired of repeatedly speaking about reforms and give up midway. I am determined when it comes to doing the right things," Muraleedharan said. He said the government would strengthen infrastructure in public hospitals by utilising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds in addition to government allocations. The minister said the ongoing probe into purchases made by the Health Department over the last 10 years should not be viewed through a political lens, asserting that those responsible must be identified if public money has been wasted. Muraleedharan also said all vacancies in the department would be promptly reported to the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) and that temporary appointments would not be encouraged as long as PSC rank lists remained valid. "I do not want to incur the curse of candidates who have worked hard for these jobs," he said. The minister said Kerala should not lose the proposed AIIMS because of regional interests, adding that the state had identified and submitted more than one site to the Centre for consideration. He also announced that, apart from political representatives, one woman and one representative from the Scheduled Caste community would be nominated by the government to Hospital Advisory Committees. Calling for a more humane approach in public hospitals, Muraleedharan said security personnel, doctors and other staff should treat patients and their attenders courteously. Counselling and training programmes would be organised to improve their interaction with the public, he said. The minister further said specialist doctors would be posted only in hospitals equipped with specialised facilities to ensure their expertise was utilised effectively. He said land belonging to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) at Mananthavady would be used for infrastructure development at the Wayanad Medical College. The government would also initiate steps to establish a super-speciality hospital on land donated by the family of late MP M P Veerendra Kumar at Madakkimala in Kalpetta, he said. Muraleedharan said a master plan would be prepared to address infrastructure deficiencies and other issues at the Parippally Medical College, the statement added. PTI LGK ADB