Mangaluru, Mar 7: The foundation-laying ceremony for ‘Jansanjeevani’ generic medical store and 24x7 pharmacy at Wenlock District Hospital was held in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader and other elected representatives in front of the casualty block of the hospital at Hampankatta here on Saturday.
On the occasion, a ‘Mukti vahana’ (funeral vehicle) donated by U T Fareed Foundation was also dedicated to the public to transport the dead from their homes with dignity after their death.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Khader said that the foundation-laying of the generic medical store and 24x7 pharmacy at Wenlock Hospital was the first step towards establishing similar medical stores at the district government hospital in every district in the state. Within a duration of three months, efforts will be made to establish generic medical stores in every district where generic medicines will be available for patients at 80 percent subsidised rates while branded medicines will be available with 10-20 percent discount inside government hospital premises. With this, there will be no scope for shortage or deficiency of generic medicines for the patients, he said, adding that the generic medical stores would be established with the help of HLL Life Care Limited.
He informed that a separate diagnosis centre with first-class CT Scan and MRI facilities would shortly come up at district Wenlock Hospital and the rates for availing the facilities would be fixed by the health department.
He further said that a funeral vehicle had been inaugurated for the first time in the state in order to treat the dead with dignity. In the next stage, the health department will undertake the implementation of such vehicles at every district government hospital in the state and at taluk centres at a later stage, he informed.
Mr Khader said that his dream was to give a facelift to the entire Wenlock Hospital and construct a full-fledged hospital building in its place which would be fulfilled in the future.
Mr Fernandes said that through science and research, the lifespan of a citizen in the country had been increased from an average of 35 years during Independence to 65 years after a period of six decades. “Very soon, we might be able to use artificially-prepared blood for patients in urgent need of blood units instead of transfusing blood from other donors,” he said, advising the medical students to be aware of the advancements and latest research in the medical field.
District Medical Officer Dr Rajeshwari Devi welcomed the gathering and made the introductory remarks. Mangaluru South MLA presided over the programme.
MLC Ivan D’Souza, Lady Goschen Hospital medical superintendent Dr Shakunthala, Kasturba Medical College Dean Dr M V Prabhu, Mangaluru North MLA Moidin Bava, corporator A C Vinayaraj and others were present on the occasion.
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