Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader said 10 new Primary Health Centres (PHCs) will be set up in the city and the existing 70 PHCs will be upgraded to  cater to the health needs of urban poor.

He was speaking at a  programme organised to sensitise BBMP corporators on National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) programme here on Monday. 

Khader said 1,199 ASHA workers will be appointed in the city.

He said five districts, including Bangalore, Mangalore and Mysore have been selected for NUHM pilot project and the government has sanctioned `133 crore for this purpose. In the first phase,  `50.82 crore has been released.

“BBMP will get `25.82 crore. The Corporators have to utilise this scheme to cater to the health needs of the poor. One PHC will be set up for 50,000 people and six high-tech labs will be added. There will be six mobile kiosks with drugs and the doctors will cater to most backward areas and slums. To each PHC, a grant of 3.12 lakh will be given towards the procurement of drugs.”

Mayor B S Sathyanarayana said the BBMP is facing a financial crisis and plans to give its hospitals under PPP model. The BBMP is also planning to rope in medical college hospitals and invite IT, BT firms and educational institutions to adopt hospitals for greater community participation, the Mayor added.

Memorandum Submitted     

Following the dismissal and  suspension of doctors involved in an alleged negligent case in which three-year-old girl Mariyam Kausar was left with neurological condition and is still unconscious,  the employees of Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopedics Hospital submitted a memorandum to Health Minister U T Khader stating that they are scared to treat patients as the patients will show violent and negative reaction.

He also said that the Health Department is waiting for a report of the inquiry committee. He asked them not to worry about this.