Udupi district minister reviews emergency healthcare services

Udupi: District minister Laxmi R Hebbalkar at the KDP meeting held on Saturday, reviewed emergency healthcare services in the district and noted that though 18 ambulances have been sanctioned under the 108 ambulance service, only 16 are operational. Complaints have been received about delays in services due to shortage of drivers, nurses and other staff. She instructed the district health officer to obtain govt permission and appoint staff on an outsourced basis if necessary.

She also expressed concern that poor patients visiting government hospitals are being referred to private facilities for scans and medicines. “Poor people come to govt hospitals because they lack money. Such situations should not arise,” she said. She directed officials to conduct regular health check-ups for school and anganwadi children.

Hebbalkar stressed that while organising any government meetings or programmes, invitation cards must follow official protocol and include the names of elected representatives as per govt guidelines. She expressed displeasure that despite instructions issued during the previous meeting, protocols were not being followed. She directed officials to issue notices to the Karkala Tahsildar and officials of the Kannada and culture department over alleged protocol violations and warned that such officials would face suspension if the issue recurs.

Hebbalkar also reviewed pending land-related cases in the revenue department. She noted that 3,652 files are pending due to data entry despite land allotments having already been made. She instructed officials to prioritise these cases. Applications filed by poor people seeking land under Sections 53-54 and 94C are also pending disposal, she noted, directing the deputy commissioner to hold weekly meetings with tahsildars and expedite the issuance of title deeds.

She said more than 680 applications filed under Sections 54 and 55 have not yet been uploaded to the e-portal despite directions from the chief secretary and asked officials to take immediate action.

The minister also directed officials to expedite the joint survey of deemed forest lands to determine whether such lands belong to the forest or revenue department. She noted that several govt buildings, schools and hospitals fall within deemed forest areas and said all hurdles in conducting the survey should be resolved immediately.

She further instructed officials to prioritise pension surveys under social security schemes and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is left out while ineligible persons using false documents are removed from the list.

Top district officials and elected representatives were present.