Funds deficiency brings premature closure to Namma Clinic services

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Due to the lack of funds, Namma Clinic services have been temporarily stopped. In a similar fashion, the Mobile Medical Unit services that were initiated under the National Health Mission in 2022 are also being suspended. In order to expand and cater to rural masses, the state government proposed 70 MMUs in 12 separate sectors.

The services included helping with maternal health, child health, old-age care, dental and eye care in rural areas as the quality of medical services in towns and panchayats is not up to the mark, and basic medical equipment is a luxury for most rural hospitals.

The NHM ordered Rs 1.55 lakh funds to inculcate in the MMUs, which will not be happening as of now. In the coming year, there are plans to release Rs 3.34 lakh for 34 units. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai inaugurated the mobile clinics, which was made possible with the joint venture of Enosis Foundation and the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

The building is built as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) norms and has a BSL-2 safety-level equipment besides a pharmacy, telemedicine, oxygen for emergency treatment, bedroom for minor surgical procedures, KP generator system and direct influx of electricity needed for its operations.

The mobile unit has been useful in the detection of illnesses, especially like Covid-19, malaria, dengue and so on. The plan for mobile units and clinic services was to serve the best interests of the rural public, but 20 such mobile units are now on hold, waiting to be funded