Mangaluru: A genome sequencing laboratory will be set up in Mangaluru, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Wednesday.

The minister said that Government Wenlock District hospital will be upgraded to ensure that specialist services are available to people.

The primary health centre in Belthangady will be upgraded at a cost of Rs 8 crore, he said.

Sudhakar was in the district to inaugurate the new building of community health c entre (CHC) in Kokkada and primary health centre in Charmadi in Beltangady taluk, constructed at a total cost of Rs 1.37 cr. 

He said the CHC in Kokkada has 30 beds and was completed at a total cost of Rs 4.8 cr. The KIOCL Limited has donated beds and the government will supply medical equipment, he said and added that the poor will receive quality treatment in this hospital.

The vacant posts of doctors have been filled up to ensure that there was no shortage of doctors in all hospitals across the state, Sudhakar said.

“The government has increased its focus on health sector. The primary health centres and community hospitals are being upgraded,” he said. As many as 1,763 doctors have been appointed and an additional 2,050 doctors were appointed on a contract basis under the mandatory one-year rural service.

Dakshina Kannada district has been provided with 26 doctors, including 18 specialists, and 40 medical officers. Dr Sudhakar assured that steps are being taken to provide more relief to endosulfan victims in distress.

Sudhakar said that government in order to manage third wave had appointed 153 pediatricians. The doctors deputed to taluk hospitals will be trained in child care. Nurses and other para-medical personnel are also being appointed, he added.

District In-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, Belthangady MLA Harish Punja, Deputy Commissioner Dr Rajendra K V, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Prajna Ammembala, District Health Officer Dr Kishore Kumar and others were present.