Tumakuru, 09 Oct (H.S.):Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader said 95 per cent of facilities in government hospitals were available and there was no significant shortage of medical personnel or medicines, while directing officials to address gaps in services.

Speaking after a progress review meeting, Khader said officials had been instructed to resolve problems affecting hospital facilities, including those providing healthcare to women and children. He stressed that patients should receive timely treatment and that shortcomings must be addressed without delay.

Any shortage of medicines, doctors or personnel responsible for dispensing drugs should be brought to the government's attention immediately, he said. Prompt reporting would enable the authorities to respond to problems before they disrupted services at hospitals.

The minister also called for coordinated action against unqualified people practising medicine. Health department officials and elected representatives must work together to curb the menace of fake doctors, he said, emphasising the need for cooperation in tackling the problem.

Outlining plans to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Tumakuru, Khader said the district hospital would be upgraded into a super-speciality centre. A dedicated emergency cardiac care unit would also be established there to provide specialised treatment for patients requiring urgent heart care.

He said steps would soon be taken to install appropriate medical equipment at the district cancer hospital. The proposed measures would strengthen the facilities available for cancer treatment and expand specialised services in the district.

Khader said the government was examining a proposal to install artificial intelligence-based cameras in government hospitals. The cameras would be used to monitor staff attendance and help ensure that patients received treatment on time.

The proposal remains under consideration. His remarks followed the review of hospital facilities and service delivery, with instructions to officials to act quickly on reported deficiencies and bring unresolved shortages to the government's notice for further action.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman