Cath lab opened at Govt. Ramanathapuram Medical College Hospital; Minister says State has sanctioned ₹71.97 cr for the district

Promising more development and provision of infrastructural facilities for Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu Minister for Health and Family Welfare K. Arun Raj said that the Tamil Nadu government had earmarked ₹71.97 crore in the Assembly in July.

Speaking to media persons after inaugurating the new cath lab facility at Government Ramanathapuram Medical College Hospital, in the presence of Principal Secretary Dares Ahmed, District Collector Sivaguru Prabhakaran and others, he said from now on, cardiac patients need not travel to Madurai as the state-of-the-art infrastructure was available here itself.

He said in the recently concluded Assembly session, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had announced ₹71.97 crore exclusively for Ramanathapuram with which, new PHCs and other infrastructure would come up.

On a query about dengue fever cases, Mr Arun Raj said till date, 23,536 cases had been reported across Tamil Nadu and the situation was under control. There was no need for panic.

The government had taken adequate measures to fight it and plenty of preventive steps had led to marginal decrease in the number of cases, when compared with at 25,585 reported last year.

He said, “Wherever there were several reports of fever, officials had deployed field staff and Domestic Mosquito Breeding Checkers (DBS). Waterlogged areas and unused materials such as tyres and tubes were cleared. The people are being sensitised to keep their surroundings clean.

The government was aware of shortage of nurses and doctors in super speciality hospitals. Very soon, 4,800 nurses would be recruited in a transparent and fair manner.

In the past, the previous governments might have struggled and brought in medical colleges for the State, but they had not been supported with adequate human resources and infrastructure. “We are doing it now,” he said.

On NEET, the Minister said even before the TVK came to power, its leaders had promised to cancel it in Tamil Nadu. “The Chief Minister is talking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others in this regard and a favourable decision can be expected,” he said.

The Health Department was pro-active for containing rabies. There were certain protocols to be followed and the officials were taking measures on the right direction, he asserted.

Earlier, the Minister visited Paramakudi Government Hospital and interacted with the doctors and paramedical staff and enquired about their requirements. The new facility was opened through video-conferencing by the CM recently, officials said.