State public health care system set to get `1,988-cr makeover

1,257 new health care centres will be opened across the state in a phased manner; 50 trauma centres on highways.

Fifteen years after the last upgrade, the state government has devised a master plan to overhaul its health care infrastructure at the cost of Rs1,988 crore. The proposal, which also moots increasing health staff by 19,236 personnel, will be taken up by the cabinet for approval next week.

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According to the proposal the health department circulated to the ministers in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, the state has changed existing norms — the planners will henceforth not only consider the population, but will also factor in population density and accessibility depending on the area’s topography while setting up health facilities.

For the first time, the state has decided to provide health care to accident victims on national and state highways. About 50 trauma care centres will come up under the new scheme as about 11,000 people die every year in road accidents.

Pubic health minister Suresh Shetty and health department’s secretary Bhushan Gagrani apprised the cabinet of the mega plan on Wednesday. The last plan was made in 1997 on the basis of the 1991 census. Since then, the state population has increased by about four crore, and almost half the state population now resides in towns and cities.

For Mumbai, the state has already approved a new building at JJ hospital and four new hospitals in the eastern and western suburbs.

The health department has ensured a balance between rural and urban areas. Under the new plan, 1,257 new small and major health care centres will be opened in a phased manner, and all sub-district and district hospitals will be upgraded.