92 mobile medical units to serve interior areas

By V L Srinivasan

Published on Jan 22, 2007

Hyderabad: In a bid to ensure better health care services in tribal and interior areas and in coastal villages inhabited by fishermen, the State Government has decided to launch 92 Medical Mobile Units (MMUs) in all districts.

The MMUs - two in each district - will be managed through public private partnership (PPP) by involving non-governmental organisations working in the districts.

The NGOs will be selected by a committee headed by district collector. The other members on the committee include ITDA project officer in case of tribal districts, project officers of DRDA and Women’s Development and Child Welfare department, District Coordinator of Hospital Services, Superintendent of the teaching hospital (where teaching hospitals are located) and District Medical & Health Officer.

The MMUs are one of the components of the Centrally-sponsored Reproduction and Child Health-II project of the National Rural Health Mission and each of MMU costs around Rs 10 lakh.

The MMUs would undertake tasks under preventive care like immunisation, ante-natal care and post-natal care, diagnostic services including minimum investigation facilities like Haemoglobin, urine examination for albumen, sugar and microscopic examination, smear examination for malaria and for detecting other locally endemic diseases like leprosy and tuberculosis.

The MMUs would even provide curative treatment for minor ailments, attend pediatric, post menopausal and geriatric problems besides serving as an appropriate referral of cases for medical specialists.

‘‘The units will also be used to provide emergency services in any area struck by disaster or epidemics of any public health emergencies.’’ officials of the Medical & Health department told Express.

Each MMU will have two medical officers (one male and one female), two staff nurses, one lab attendant and a contingent worker.

The teams will carry one ultra sound scan machine, ECG, examination table (foldable) and drugs including life saving drugs. Besides hiring the vehicle to carry the personnel as well as the equipment, the NGOs will recruit the supporting staff.

On its part, the State Government will provide the equipment, consumable, and drugs, apart from the budget for salaries.

The concerned NGO will finalise the village-wise visit plans for MMUs in consultation with the District Medical & Health Officer, the officials said.