Thiruvananthapuram: Health Minister K. K. Shylaja has said people’s health policy of the state will come into being by November. The government formally began the proceedings for formulating the comprehensive health policy by holding the maiden meeting of the 17-member expert group headed by former vice-chancellor and Planning Board member B. Ekbal. The meeting held in the minister’s chamber was attended by all members of the panel.
The meeting decided to submit the draft policy by November-end. According to health minister, the proposed policy will be people oriented and address the needs of all sections.
As part of the exercise, the panel will seek the opinion of various departments, health experts, organisations and professionals. The committee members will camp at different centres to receive suggestions, recommendations and views of cross section of people directly.
Suggestions sent through Facebook, WhatsApp and mail will also be accepted by the panel. “Our government is committed to put in place a policy which gives equal importance to health institutions right from the primary health centres to super speciality hospitals. The modern health care facilities will be made accessible to all citizens. The policy will give importance to all systems of medicine,” the minister said.
Primary health system will be reformed, emphasis will be on disease control and prevention and the policy will aim at making modern treatment facilities accessible to the common man.
Dr K. P. Aravindan, emeritus scientist, Multidisciplinary Research Unit, Kozhikode medical college, will be the convener and Dr R. Jayaprkash joint convenor. The other members Dr P. K. Jameela, Rama Preman, V. K. Sasidharan, Dr V. Ramankutty, Dr Rajmohan, Dr A. K. Jayasree, Dr V. Pradeep, Dr V. K. Mohan Lal, Dr Asha Vijayan, Dr C. Sudharshan, Dr Ramla Beevi, Dr R. Ramesh, Dr K. Jamuna and Dr Anitha Jacob attended the meeting.
