Doctors seek extension of Arogyasri to small hospitals

[sajiv]

Doctors seek extension of Arogyasri to small hospitals

KARIMNAGAR: Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar has assured the doctors of Indian Medical Association (IMA), AP chapter that he would discuss with Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy about extending the Arogyasri health insurance scheme to the small hospitals in district headquarters.

Speaking after inaugurating the Academic conference of IMA (ACIMA 2009) here on Sunday, the MP said that he would strive to get a government medical college in Karimnagar town. He also announced release of Rs. 2 lakh from his MPLADS for the construction of library in IMA Karimnagar chapter in the town. Karimnagar legislator G. Kamalakar expressed concern over the attacks on the private hospitals by "some unruly elements" in spite of issuance of ordinance for the safety of hospitals and doctors in the State. He appealed to the doctors to serve the society and assured them of all safety and protection from "hooligans". He favoured strict implementation of the ordinance to protect the doctors and the hospitals from attacks.

Hailing the Arogyasri health insurance scheme, IMA national coordinator N. Appa Rao said that the implementation of the Arogyasri scheme would extinct the small hospitals in the districts. He appealed to the government to extend the facilities to the small hospitals with 10 beds to serve the society better. DM&HO N. Subadra called upon all the private medical practitioners to register their nursing homes.

IMA State president N. Kishore stressed on the need for increasing the time duration for the continuous medical education (CME) programme to update the developments in the medical fraternity. IMA State general secretary Ch. Srinivas Raju suggested the proposal for the starting of medical college by the IMA in the district and utilise the government hospital for the same. He also stressed on the need for the changes in the medical syllabus.

Secretary of College of general practice (CGP) M. Shivalingam, IMA district president K. Shyam Sunder, secretary T.K.K. Naidu, Prathima group of industries chairman B. Srinivasa Rao and others also spoke on the occasion.