Slew of steps to upgrade rural healthcare

CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday spoke of new measures to upgrade healthcare in rural areas.  She said that 15,600 vacancies in the Health Department would be filled soon through the Medical Services Recruitment Board.The announcements included 42 new 24-hour maternity care centres, upgrading of 31 secondary-level maternity care centres, implementing a new scheme at a cost of Rs 2.70 crore to create health awareness among women in rural areas,  screening for cancer among women, setting up of 20 new PHCs in hilly areas and  the creation of tele-medicine facilities in PHCs at a cost of Rs 5 crore.  Making a suo motu statement in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister said of the 1,589 PHCs functioning in the State now, 1,539 were offering round-the-clock service.  Very soon, the rest of the 50 PHCs would also offer 24-hour service. Facilities are available for conducting cesarean in the 283 upgraded PHCs and the rural areas do not have such a facility. Hence, 42 round-the-clock maternal child health centres would be set up at a cost of Rs 19 crore to conduct cesareans on emergency cases.  Each of these centres will have three nurses.The Central government has specified that one PHC should be established for a population of 20,000 in hilly areas, and in the plains one PHC for a population of 30,000. Based on this, 20 new PHCs would be established at a cost of of Rs 12.80 crore. Besides, 38 PHCs located in rural areas that have lesser  facilities would be upgraded to 30-bed centres with operation theatres at a cost of Rs 39 crore.As of now, there are 91,600 posts in the Health Department and of this, 15,600 posts are lying vacant now.  These will be filled soon by the Medical Services Recruitment Board, which will also be  formed.  The Board would be headed by an IAS officer in the rank of Additional Secretary.  Such a Board is being formed for the first time in the country, the Chief Minister said.