Karnataka government hospital helpline to start again

Kundapura: The fifty government hospital helplines that were cancelled in April will be restarted again.

In 2017, under the National Health Mission, helplines for citizens were started in the district and sub-divisional government hospitals to help patients and their relatives with medical care.

These hospital helplines centres had 6 employees including one manager and their salaries were paid by the Centre and State government in 70 per cent-30 per cent ratio respectively.

The Central government discontinued the helpline service and merged it with the 104 Helpline under a new grievances redressal system called ‘Mera Hospital.’

This online system was difficult for many rural patients.

After recommendations by Kundapura MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty and Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, it was decided to restart the helpline.

Bengaluru-based Durga Enterprises has been given the contract to run the helpline centres and the salaries of the employees in the centres will be paid from the hospital’s healthcare fund.