Advisory committees in dist/taluk hospitals to be reconstituted

Bangalore, Sep 5 (UNI) The Karnataka Government will reconstitute local advisory committees in all district and taluk hospitals for its better management and minimising complaints in its functioning, Health Minister R Ashok informed today.

Addressing newspersons here, he said the new committee, comprising both officials and representatives from the society, would be constituted within two weeks. Some financial powers would be conferred on it to spend in times of emergency.

Mr Ashok said the State Government had earlier constituted two advisory committees in each hospital -- one comprising civil and medical officers and another consisting of a cross section of the society. The officers committee hardly met and paid attention to pubic grievances. There was no coordination between the two committees and for the last three years, hospitals have not utilised 'Users Fund', collected from hospital users. Every taluk and district hospital in the State had 'User funds' ranging from Rs 50 lakhs to Rs three crore at their disposal.

He said that during his surprise check, he had found serious lapses in supply of food and nutrient eatables to patients in Government hospitals. Strict instructions have been issued to the hospitals concerned to ensure proper supply of meals, bread and milk to the patients. Errant officials and contractors would be dealt with firmly, he warned.

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