Oommen Chandy: Humane chief who put sufferers first, say well being consultants

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Medical consultants keep in mind Oommen Chandy as a Chief Minister who confirmed a humane strategy to the well being sector. He was referred to as the person of consensus, however at instances disregarded the opinion of consultants when his coronary heart was set on a welfare venture for sufferers.

One such determination was to supply free surgical procedure for cochlear implants to kids beneath the age of 5 when he was the Chief Minister.

“Experts were divided on providing state support for a small section. But he was right. Rectifying the hearing issue allows children to develop their speech, language and communication skill that helps them to live a normal life,” mentioned Dr Althaf A, a former working group member of the Planning Board and affiliate professor at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College.

The then authorities determined to go forward with the Shruthi Tharangam venture by allocating Rs 5 crore for the good thing about 100 kids. A gathering with the beneficiaries was organised on the Durbar Hall the place Chandy made an announcement to develop the programme to cowl all future candidates.

He later mentioned he was moved by the plight of affected kids and their mother and father and it remained one of many initiatives that gave him most satisfaction in his profession.

Oommen Chandy: Man of the lots who was made for public service

In addition to the cochlear implant venture, Chandy additionally made a lot of different contributions to the healthcare sector in Kerala.  The e-health venture initiated throughout his time to digitise well being information turned the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission on the nationwide degree. Similarly, the Comprehensive Health Plan later turned the Ardram Mission, which enabled native our bodies to fund well being initiatives. “The infant and maternal mortality numbers of the state had been stagnant for 30 years since the 1980s. The numbers came down to single digits due to active interventions from 2011 onwards,” mentioned Dr Althaf.

Dr PS Shajahan, professor of Pulmonary Medicine at Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, who usually acted because the household doctor of the Chandys, recalled the intervention made by Chandy to supply free electrical energy to sufferers dwelling with a life assist system at house. “It was a great gesture that helped many patients to continue the use of oxygen concentrators at home. He was always ready to go out of the way to help patients. He used to call me on behalf of other patients. He makes his requests so politely that we would wake up in the night to meet them,” mentioned Dr Shajahan. He added that Chandy usually ignored his well being even when he was most involved concerning the well being of others.

ALSO READ | Oommen Chandy: A mass chief who emerged from pupil politics

There are well being consultants who criticise Chandy too. “The expansion of medical colleges in every district without adequate preparation compromised the existing health care centres. His mass contact programmes offered help to a few patients. But he failed to bring an institutional framework. There were several projects including air ambulances and organ transplantation that did not take off the way he planned. Perhaps, he did not get enough support from his health ministers,” mentioned a physician.

Chandy’s legacy in healthcare is advanced. He made some vital contributions, however he additionally made some errors. However, there isn’t any doubt that he was a person who cared deeply concerning the well being of the individuals of Kerala.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Medical consultants keep in mind Oommen Chandy as a Chief Minister who confirmed a humane strategy to the well being sector. He was referred to as the person of consensus, however at instances disregarded the opinion of consultants when his coronary heart was set on a welfare venture for sufferers.

One such determination was to supply free surgical procedure for cochlear implants to kids beneath the age of 5 when he was the Chief Minister.

“Experts were divided on providing state support for a small section. But he was right. Rectifying the hearing issue allows children to develop their speech, language and communication skill that helps them to live a normal life,” mentioned Dr Althaf A, a former working group member of the Planning Board and affiliate professor at Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

The then authorities determined to go forward with the Shruthi Tharangam venture by allocating Rs 5 crore for the good thing about 100 kids. A gathering with the beneficiaries was organised on the Durbar Hall the place Chandy made an announcement to develop the programme to cowl all future candidates.

He later mentioned he was moved by the plight of affected kids and their mother and father and it remained one of many initiatives that gave him most satisfaction in his profession.

Oommen Chandy: Man of the lots who was made for public service

In addition to the cochlear implant venture, Chandy additionally made a lot of different contributions to the healthcare sector in Kerala.  The e-health venture initiated throughout his time to digitise well being information turned the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission on the nationwide degree. Similarly, the Comprehensive Health Plan later turned the Ardram Mission, which enabled native our bodies to fund well being initiatives. “The infant and maternal mortality numbers of the state had been stagnant for 30 years since the 1980s. The numbers came down to single digits due to active interventions from 2011 onwards,” mentioned Dr Althaf.

Dr PS Shajahan, professor of Pulmonary Medicine at Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, who usually acted because the household doctor of the Chandys, recalled the intervention made by Chandy to supply free electrical energy to sufferers dwelling with a life assist system at house. “It was a great gesture that helped many patients to continue the use of oxygen concentrators at home. He was always ready to go out of the way to help patients. He used to call me on behalf of other patients. He makes his requests so politely that we would wake up in the night to meet them,” mentioned Dr Shajahan. He added that Chandy usually ignored his well being even when he was most involved concerning the well being of others.

ALSO READ | Oommen Chandy: A mass chief who emerged from pupil politics

There are well being consultants who criticise Chandy too. “The expansion of medical colleges in every district without adequate preparation compromised the existing health care centres. His mass contact programmes offered help to a few patients. But he failed to bring an institutional framework. There were several projects including air ambulances and organ transplantation that did not take off the way he planned. Perhaps, he did not get enough support from his health ministers,” mentioned a physician.

Chandy’s legacy in healthcare is advanced. He made some vital contributions, however he additionally made some errors. However, there isn’t any doubt that he was a person who cared deeply concerning the well being of the individuals of Kerala.