YS Jagan stresses on efficient implementation of family doctor concept

AMARAVATI: Emphasising the key role played by the village clinics and PHCs in achieving the objectives of preventive care, Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy instructed the medical and health department officials to implement the family doctor concept efficiently.

At a review meeting of the department held here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister took stock of the functioning of the village clinics. Speaking on the occasion, YS Jagan told the officials to take steps to make the Government hospitals corruption-free and run them with SOPs while strengthening the grievance-redressal system by displaying the toll free numbers prominently in all hospitals. On the recruitment system, the Chief Minister said that it should be strengthened with the supervision of an IAS officer to avoid scarcity of medical and para-medical professionals in the department, besides stressing that no post should be vacant for more than four weeks.

Officials informed him that 1,39,97,189 persons including 35,79,569 hyper-tension patients and 24,31,934 diabetic patients were treated so far under the ‘family doctor’ programme. While extending good medical treatment to the patients and keeping track of their health condition, officials should also take steps to ensure that eye tests are conducted at regular intervals at village clinics, the Chief Minister said. Community health officers are being trained in giving first aid, snake bite treatment, IV infusion, wound care, dressing, basic cardiac life support and related issues, he was told.

Reviewing the steps taken to prevent sickle cell anemia, the Chief Minister asked about the steps being implemented. Officials told him that a target of 6.68 lakh tests has been fixed this year and the diagnostic tests would begin in Alluri Sitarama Raju, Manyam and Parvathipuram districts this month. They also informed him that dentists are also visiting the PHCs as part of measures to strengthen the oral health care system and prevent dental issues while steps are being taken to identify people suffering with TB characteristics by conducting medical tests. He directed them to ensure proper treatment to such people at the right time.

Aarogyasri cards containing QR codes should be given to all newborn babies in a family and details of their health status should be mentioned in the cards, the Chief Minister directed the officials. During the course of the meeting, YS Jagan also took stock of the steps being taken to provide basic infrastructure in the new medical colleges at Vizianagaram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Machilipatnam and Nandyal which are starting classes this year and in the Paderu, Adoni and Pulivendual medical colleges which are commencing classes next year. He told them to ensure good quality of works in these constructions so that the structures would be remembered forever.

Medical and Health Minister V Rajani, Chief Secretary Dr KS Jawahar Reddy, Special Chief Secretary MT Krishna Babu (Medical & Health), Health and Family Welfare Director J Nivas, Aarogyasri CEO MN Harinder Prasad, APMSIDC Chairman Dr B Chandrasekhara Reddy and other senior officials took part in the review meeting.