Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. K Sudhakar will inaugurate 114 ‘Namma Clinics’ in Bengaluru, on December 14th at 11 am.
On Monday, the Karnataka State Health minister announced that Chief Minister will launch 114 ‘Namma Clinics’ in Bengaluru, and simultaneously they will be launched in the other districts too. The aim is to provide primary healthcare services to vulnerable sections of society especially slum dwellers, daily wageworkers, street vendors, and different economically weaker sections of society through this project.Â
These clinics will be offering 12 types of health services and each one of them will have a medical officer, nursing staff, laboratory technician, and D group employees. The 12 types of services will include pregnancy, postnatal and neonatal care, childhood and adolescent care, Universal Immunization Services, Family Welfare, Contraceptives, Infectious Disease Management, Common and Minor Ailment Care, Blood Pressure Management, Chronic Diseases, oral ailments, etc. Further free referrals will be given to those in need of tertiary care such as in the case of breast and uterine cancer, eye examinations, etc.
Additionally, elderly care, emergency medical services, health, check-ups, and medicines will be available free of cost. The working hours of these clinics will be 9 am to 4.30 pm from Monday to Saturday.
This is the district-wise break-up of the new Namma Clinics: Bagalkot 18, Ballary 11, Vijayanagar 6, Belagavi I 21, Bengaluru Rural 9, Bidar 6, Chamarajanagar 3, Chikkamagaluru 4, Chitradurga 1, Dakshina Kannada 12, Davangere 1, Dharwad 6, Gadag 11, Hassan 5, Haveri 5, Kalaburgi 11, Kodagu 1, Kolar 3, Koppala 3, Mandya 4, Mysuru 6, Raichur 8, Ramanagara 3, Tumakuru 10, Udupi 10, Uttara Kannada 10, Vijayapura 10, Yadgir 3 and 243 under BBMP limits
Karnataka Future prospects of the Health Sector
In the announcement, Karnataka Health Minster K Sudhakar also mentioned that the government is planning to operationalize all 438 Namma Clinics across the state soon and of remaining ones will be operational by January 2024. By the second week of January, 243 Namma Clinics under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area are expected to be operational, each targeting to serve a population of 10,000 to 20,000. Already 300 doctors have been appointed though some of the clinics are facing a shortage. Minister said that alternative arrangements have been made and 80-100 MBBS-qualified doctors will be roped in for their compulsory rural service in such places.
This is a total of 150 crore rupees project and most of the clinics will be using government buildings. This is a big step towards bringing equality in the health sector and stands true to the State Minister’s motto of ‘Equal and Fair Opportunities for All’. Such steps ensure financial support and are a great move toward the dream of UHC (Universal Health Coverage).
Karnataka’s Overall Performance ( Health Index ) ranking dropped to 9th position (in 2019-2020) with the Health Index of 57.93% from 8th position (2018-2019). These recent developments in the area of health and information governance ( for example quick response against the effects of Cyclone Mandous ), health outcomes, and processes have highlighted the efforts of the Karnataka government. In the future, it will be interesting to see how the government will manage and keep such a large number of clinics functional and take back its ranking on the Health Index.
