KMC sends daktarbabu to local clubs

Kolkata: Smitirani Dutta, a septuagenarian and a resident of Chirantani Park in Ward 113, has been suffering from cough for a fortnight. Even a couple of years ago, Dutta used to visit the Kolkata Municipal Corporation ward health unit in such cases. But, she can't go there now because of the distance of the centre from her home.
Come September, Dutta won't have to take the trouble of walking mroe than 3 kilometres from Chirantani Park to Joyasree Park for a health check-up.The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will send doctors to her doorstep. The civic health department has decided to set up permanent health check-up points at local clubs — a move that will help the elderly people the most. The treatment comes free of cost. In addition, the KMC-appointed doctors will prescribe medicines and the same will be supplied by the KMC ward health units free of cost. To start with, the doctors will be available at the local clubs to check blood pressure, sugar and seasonal ailments of the patients.
The decision was taken after conducting a survey on the quality of civic health infrastructure in the ward level. The results revealed that even though the civic body arranges for treatment of the citizens at the ward level, few can avail it because of the location of the ward health units. "We found that a lot of people, who can't afford to visit specialized clinics, want to take our health services. But the attendance is not encouraging as our health units are located in places that the patients find difficult to reach," said Atin Ghosh, member, mayor-in-council overseeing the KMC health department.
So, the civic body wanted to expand its health services.
After an on-the-spot survey, it was decided that the KMC doctors would be asked to sit at the local clubs within a ward once a week by rotation. Besides, 144 medical officers, that the KMC now have, will examine the health of the citizens ward-wise. The civic body is now in the process of recruiting doctors. "We have already recruited 30 doctors for the purpose. The recruitment process is on and we will ensure that doctors are regularly available for the needy and elderly people," Ghosh said. Keeping this project in mind, a team of KMC health department officials had held a meeting with Union health ministry officials in Delhi recently. "The union health ministry has assured all financial help for the project. We will recruit doctors and purchase medicines out of the funds that the Centre will sanction for reaching medical facilities at the citizens' doorsteps," the MMiC said.