Pre-monsoon cleanliness drive “Thudakkam” to be launched in state

T’puram: The health department will launch a statewide pre-monsoon cleanliness drive titled ‘Thudakkam’ across hospitals as part of measures to strengthen preparedness ahead of the rainy season. The state-level inauguration of the campaign will be held at Govt Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, at 9am on Saturday. The drive will be inaugurated by health minister K Muraleedharan.

The decision follows a review meeting convened by minister with officials from the directorate of medical education (DME), directorate of health services (DHS) and other departments, where strict instructions were issued for pre-monsoon sanitation measures. Local bodies and schools have also been asked to participate in the campaign. Hospital superintendents, principals and district medical officers will coordinate and monitor implementation.

At MCH, laboratory staff will be assigned to collect blood samples for tests between 8pm and 8am to reduce inconvenience for patient attendants.

The minister ordered immediate intervention to resolve complaints regarding delays in urology surgeries at Thiruvananthapuram MCH due to shortages of anaesthesiologists and equipment. The hospital superintendent has been tasked with ensuring timely availability of required resources.

At Regional Cancer Centre, 13 vacancies will be filled urgently to reduce delays in doctor consultations and surgeries, while remaining vacancies will be addressed after amendments to special recruitment rules.

Apart from this it has been decided to install surveillance cameras at all hospital counters within a week to monitor staff’s behaviour towards patients, and strict action will be taken against those causing inconvenience. Complaint registers and QR-code based grievance systems enabling photo and video submissions will also be introduced at OP counters.

Priority queues and wheelchair assistance will be ensured for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Hospitals have also been directed to complete scans and diagnostic tests for admitted patients within two days, with inpatients receiving priority.

DMEs and hospital superintendents have been asked to prepare a patient-friendly action plan within a week and implement the measures within 30 days across all govt healthcare institutions, from PHCs to medical colleges and RCC.