Mangaluru: Minister for health and family welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao said the govt will launch a mass screening programme to check the health of the entire population of Karnataka.
“Under this programme, we will be mass screening the entire population of Karnataka. The programme will be introduced in eight districts on a pilot basis. Each house in the district will be covered under the programme through the department. The focus will be on checking blood pressure, and sugar and early detection of cervical cancer, breast cancer, and other diseases. In the case of blood pressure and blood sugar, we will ensure the door delivery of required medicines to them regularly,” the minister said at the inaugural of new facilities at Justice KS Hegde Charitable Hospital here on Monday.
He stated that the main focus of the health department will be to prevent diseases or detect them at an early stage. “It is easy to treat any disease if it is detected early. Many people reach the hospital at the last stage when it is too late. To ensure early detection and screening, the govt has planned this mass screening programme,” he said.
The private sector has a huge role because they have become centres of excellence, he said adding they bring in new technology and research, and give exposure to doctors. There is a need for putting efforts so that public and private sectors go hand in hand, he said.
Speaker UT Khader said that initiatives will be taken to boost medical tourism in the district and thereby attract neighbouring countries. “The health minister and I will chalk out a plan soon to open the doors of the medical sector in the region to people from small countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other nations,” Khader said. He added that Rs 25 crore has been released to take up the remaining work on developing the road from Thokkottu to Deralakatte, the hub of medical colleges.
DGR assures to discuss withdrawal of tollgate cases
Dinesh Gundu Rao assured the Action Committee Against Surathkal Tollgate that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the withdrawal of the case registered against those who held a protest demanding the closure of the tollgate at Surathkal.
A delegation of the action committee met the minister and submitted a memorandum on Monday. Muneer Katipalla, the convener of the action committee, said that the minister responded positively to withdraw the case registered against 101 leaders from various political parties and organisations.
The action committee had held protests for nearly seven years demanding the closure of the tollgate on NH-66 at Surathkal.
The apolitical protests led to the closure of toll collection at the Surathkal plaza on December 1, 2022. Though the protests were peaceful, police registered a case, and a chargesheet has been filed against 101 leaders. Social and political activists from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts were accused in the chargesheet, Muneer said.
“We requested the minister to withdraw the case and chargesheet filed against 101 leaders. Since the protest was held in the public interest, the chargesheet filed for holding a protest should be withdrawn. The minister has promised to look into the issue and hold a discussion with the CM,” Muneer said.
A chargesheet has been filed against leaders Mithun Rai, Shashidhara Hegde, Pratibha Kulai (Congress), Sunil Kumar Bajal, Yadava Shetty, Muneer Katipalla, BK Imthiyaz (CPM), Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, Yashavanthi Maroli (advocates), Dilraj Alva (bus owner), and others.
