First Siddha hospital of State in M’luru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 15, 2015:   Talking with media on the sidelines of the diamond jubilee celebrations of Karnataka Cashew Manufacturers Association on March 14,  Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said the State government will set up a first ever Siddha Hospital and Medical College of the State in Mangaluru soon.    He said Siddha which comes under Ayush is the oldest form of  medicine in South India. At present, Siddha hospitals are there only in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

In Mangaluru, the hospital-cum-medical-college will come up using the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) funds.

Facility : The government has sanctioned a 50-bedded integrated Ayush hospital at District Wenlock Hospital premises.   This is a new system of treatment and the patient will have the option of getting treatment under Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha or Homeopathy. Plan is being chalked out about the place and whether it should be temporary or permanent basis, he said.

Medical labs : For medical investigations in case of communicable diseases, out of five high-tech labs, the government has sanctioned one lab to Mangaluru. As people from many districts come to the city for treatment, it would help the district, Minister Khader added.

The Minister claimed that the budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will help downtrodden of society, resulting in overall development of the state. The opposition parties should read 600-page budget copy before commenting on it. For the first time, State government has declared rice to APL card holders, he said.  In 2009-10, during H1N1 outbreak, the state government didn’t open even a single lab for testing, now the government has opened five labs across the state.

He said effort is on and  the government will give free medicine to tribals who suffer from Sickle-cell anaemia, which causes early death and will check on other needs.