As the country prioritizes the comprehensive primary health care as a strategy to achieve continuum of healthcare and resilient health systems to the COVID-19 pandemic and future health emergencies; the state of Karnataka has set up country’s first-of-its-kind Comprehensive Urban Primary Health Centre in Bengaluru, the innovation hub of India. This could prove to be a huge step in making the country’s healthcare system accessible to all at an affordable cost.
The first-of-its-kind Comprehensive Urban Primary Health Centre (CUPHC) with new-age technology and quality equipment was opened in Malleswaram, Bengaluru. The upgradation of the PHC from conception to execution was completed under Karnataka Minister Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan’s direction. The CUPHC was set up by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in collaboration with Manipal Health Enterprises and with philanthropic contributions by several citizens. In all, INR 3 crore has been spent on civil work of the PHCs in Malleswaram. It is Dr Narayan’s vision is to establish all tiers of hospitals in his constituency of Malleswaram: One PHC in every ward, one Secondary Care Centre in every constituency, and one super speciality hospital in every BBMP Zone.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr. C N Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education; IT & BT; Science & Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood, Government of Karnataka said, “The Malleswaram CUPHC is established in line with our Hon’ble PM Sri Narendra Modi’s vision to provide quality healthcare for all. The very first completely digitalised centre, it aims to provide quality healthcare services at an affordable price. 20 CUPHCs in various wards in Bengaluru will be established to serve urban and rural populations. There is a lack of trust in the public healthcare system and through this effort, I hope to repose faith amongst citizens. The healthcare centre will also help address the lack of specialist doctors in the country.”
He further added, “It brings me immense joy that ‘Malleswaram Model’ is recognised as an ideal model for the entire country owing to similar initiatives that are scalable and can be replicated.”
The CUPHC offers end-to-end services like testing, hi-tech diagnostics (Xpress Clinic) and treatment, medicines will also be provided at either zero cost or an affordable price. Both APL and BPL card holders will get a 30-60 percent rebate at the centre.
A pilot project to understand the efficacy of Virtual Speciality Clinical Services including General Medicine, General Surgery, ENT, Opthal, Dermal, Ortho, Pulmonology and Cardiology has already been set up. An estimated cost of INR 16-17 crores over the next three years to develop 27 such centres across the city.
