Toiled hard as Health Minister; happily accepted Food Ministry: UT Khader

Mangaluru, Jul 4: UT Khader, who recently took over as the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, has no complaints though he was shifted from Health and Family Welfare portfolio during the last month's cabinet reshuffle.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of a function at Government Wenlock Hospital in the city, Mr Khader said that Food and Health are inter-related.

“It is only when there is healthy food, one can be assured of good health.? I have also conveyed it to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that I don't have any complaints,” the minister said, adding that he happily accepted the new responsibility.

Mr Khader, who had topped a series of surveys conducted by various news agencies to assess the performance of ministers in the state, said that he had toiled hard during his three-year term as the Health Minister.

However, he said, a lot more still needed be done to make health facilities more inclusive of everyone.

He said he had received good support from officials and Health Department staff in implementing various schemes and initiatives. He called upon officials to work hard to address the new challenges in the health sector.

Mr. Khader said a 50-bed super-speciality ayurveda hospital would soon start operations on Government Wenlock Hospital premises. He said 12 new posts were created for this hospital, which would be the first of its kind in the country.