November 17, 2017
Tamil Nadu has become a benchmark for health care in the country, said State Health Minister Dr. C. Vijayabhaskar.
Inaugurating an international seminar and workshop on bariatric surgery ‘Lasarofit’ organised by Gem Hospital in the city on Thursday, he said Tamil Nadu was the only State in the nation to include bariatric surgery in the Chief Minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme. “Tamil Nadu is the first State to include bariatric surgery in the scheme. The surgery is done free of cost and people can make use of it,” he said.
“The surgery helps in reducing metabolic issues and increases the life expectancy of people.”
The three-day workshop aims to create standardisations in the field of bariatric surgery and also to train young surgeons in the field. More than 300 surgeons are attending the workshop. Dr. C. Palanivelu, Chairman, Gem Hospital thanked the Government for including bariatric surgery under the insurance scheme. “Today, Government hospitals are receiving more funds and the Government is taking all efforts to make Government hospitals on par with private hospitals.”
Dr. Praveen Raj, President, International Excellence Federation of Bariatric Surgery (Indian Chapter) mentioned about the increasing burden of obesity in Tamil Nadu which ranks fourth in overall terms of obesity and diabetes in the country.
GH TO GET ADDITIONAL MORTUARY VANS
Earlier speaking to reporters at the airport, the Health Minister said that the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital will get an additional of seven vans excluding the four that exists already, within a span of one week. This he said after the media persons pointed out the patethix plight where in four corpses are dumped one over the other.
He further said the newly inducted departments have been functioning effectively and so far eight patients have undergone open heart surgeries and 13 kidney transplants. The CMCH will soon perform liver and heart transplants.
Stating that six lakh undergo treatment in the hospitals across the State, he said that funds have been allowed to fill vacancies for nurses and technicians. About 2,000 sanitary supervisors have already been inducted, he said.