Kerala PHCs to become 24/7 family health centres

Thiruvananthapuram: Health minister K.K. Shailaja on Tuesday said primary health centres in the state would soon become family health centres that function round the clock and provide free treatment for lifestyle diseases. In the first phase, 170 PHCs have been identified for the scale up. The minister called the initiative a “public health movement centred on primary health centres”, and said that it would go a long way in reducing the dependence of the public on private hospitals.

“We cannot deny the fact that 67 percent of people in the state depend on private hospitals for even their basic health needs,” the minister said while replying to the Discussion on Demands for Grants in the Budget in the Assembly.

“If we are to bring them back to government hospitals, we need to equip them with adequate modern facilities.”

The minister said 170 PHCs would soon be upgraded as model medical centres.

“The objective is to provide individual care to each family that comes within the purview of a family health centre,” she said.

Respective panchayat presidents and medical officers have already been provided training.

A comprehensive health data of citizens will be collected and updated periodically using the services of ASHA workers and Kudumbasree health volunteers working under these PHCs.

“The materials required for the exercise - blood strips, blood pressure monitors, weighing machines - will be made available to each panchayat,” the minister said.

Those who have been identified as ill will be treated at the family health centres, and those who require further care will be referred to secondary and tertiary care centres. People with incurable diseases will be given care through the palliative network.

The health department is also planning to revive the ‘family doctor’ concept by providing healthcare at home for old and weak patients within a PHC.

The minister said 650 new posts had been sanctioned for the family healthcare centres.