19 urban health and wellness centres in Coimbatore awaiting inauguration

COIMBATORE: As many as 19 urban health and wellness centres (UHWCs) in Coimbatore -- whose construction work has been completed and staff members have been recruited -- are awaiting inauguration.The Coimbatore city municipal corporation has 32 urban primary health centres (UPHC). The Tamil Nadu govt has constructed 19 UHWCs in Coimbatore to enhance the health services in the city. They include those in Ganapathy Maa Nagar, Townhall, Olympus, Ondipudur, Rathinapuri, Selvapuram, Kovilmedu and Pappanaickenpalayam.The state govt spent Rs 25 lakh for the construction of each centre, The construction work of the wellness centres was completed at least six months ago.More than 70 people have joined various postings including doctors, staff nurses, health inspectors and housekeeping staff, across the 19 centres.“The state govt has completed the recruitment of staff members for the UHWCs. They include doctors, staff nurses and other cadres who will work on a contract basis. The centres will help the poor people. The centres were expected to be inaugurated by the chief minister MK Stalin last month, but it was postponed.

So far, the city municipal corporation and public health department have not taken any initiatives to open the UHWCs,” said an official.Commenting on this delay, N R Ravisankar, an activist in Cheran Maa Nagar, questioned the public health preparedness of the corporation. “While they look into roads and drains, public health is very important. While there are high possibilities of monsoon infections like dengue and flu, the lack of these facilities forces the public to opt for private hospitals and clinics.

Medical expenses in the private sector are not affordable, and many people fail to avail proper treatment. If these facilities are open, people from all walks of life can get better healthcare at the earliest, that too free of cost.” said Ravisankar.Briefing on the delay, a senior corporation official said, “The situation is the same across the state, with 208 centres awaiting inauguration.”Meanwhile, all the staff recruited for these 19 centres are on duty at various urban primary health centres.Chief minister M K Stalin in 2022 announced the establishment of 708 urban health and wellness centres across Tamil Nadu, with 72 centres allocated to the Coimbatore district. Of this, 64 centres fall under the jurisdiction of the city corporation, of which 45 have been open to the public.