Chitradurga: Karnataka govt has approved the procurement of 350 new ambulances to strengthen emergency healthcare services from rural areas to district hospitals, health and family welfare minister UT Khader said on Friday.Addressing a review meeting of the health and family welfare and minority welfare departments at the deputy commissioner’s office, Khader said a stricter mechanism was being introduced to improve ambulance response times. Under the proposed system, service providers will face a penalty of Rs 3,000 if an ambulance fails to reach the spot within 20 minutes of receiving a call.An ambulance tracking system is also being planned, with an agreement under preparation. Karnataka currently operates 450 ambulances, and the addition of 350 vehicles will take the fleet strength to 800, he said.The minister said govt was also focusing on strengthening taluk hospitals by introducing five-bed tele-ICU facilities to reduce pressure on district hospitals. While 220 medical officers have already been recruited, approval has been granted to fill 1,000 vacant posts, including those of specialists, doctors and staff nurses.Khader said govt was examining the need for new district hospitals in places where existing district hospitals had been transferred to medical colleges. Since a teaching hospital is mandatory under National Medical Commission norms for establishing a medical college, district hospitals in Ballari, Chitradurga and other districts were handed over to the medical education department.To ensure uninterrupted healthcare services, existing taluk hospitals at district headquarters will either be upgraded as district hospitals or new facilities will be built, he said.The minister directed taluk health officers to inspect PHCs under their jurisdiction at least three times a month. He also instructed officials to ensure adequate stocks of essential life-saving medicines, including anti-rabies vaccines and anti-venom drugs for snakebite treatment, at all hospitals.Khader also went on to say that DK Shivakumar would remain chief minister for the full term, with Siddaramaiah’s guidance and cooperation. He also predicted that Congress would return to power in 2028, with Shivakumar becoming CM again.MLA KC Virendra, urban development cell chairperson Taj Peer, deputy commissioner S Ramya, district health nodal officer Dr Ranganath and district health and family welfare officer Dr MC Sunil Kumar attended the meeting.
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