Karnataka: CM Bommai Launches 108 Namma Clinics Across Bengaluru, 12 Medical Services To Be Delivered Free In Each Centre By Team Of 4 Medical Staff

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today (Feb 7) launched 108 Namma Clinics established by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) within the city limits.

Namma Clinic is aimed at providing primary healthcare services to vulnerable sections, especially the urban poor and daily wage workers, across the state. It will proved integrate promotive, preventive and curative healthcare services under one roof and will cater to needs of the  15-20 thousand citizens in the vicinity.

CM Bommai inaugurated the Namma Clinic in Mahalakshmipuram ward of Mahalakshmi Layout while the remaining 107 clinics were launched virtually.

A total of 243 Namma Clinics are being set up by the state government in each ward within the BBMP limits utilising the 15th Finance Commission grant of Rs 155.77 crore.

During the budget presented for the year in 2022-23, CM Bommai had unveiled plans to establish 438 Namma Clinics including 243 such clinics in Bengaluru and 205 in other major cities of Karnataka.

Following up the budgetary announcement, BJP-led government simultaneously launched 114 Namma Clinics in December 2022 as part of the first phase of the project with CM Bommai inaugurating a Namma Clinic at Bhairidevarkoppa in Hubballi of Dharwad district.

Namma Clinic- Service Offered, Funding And Staffing

Each Namma Clinic is expected to cater to a population of 10,000 to 20,000. The 12 kinds of services provided in the clinic includes pregnancy, postnatal, neonatal care, childhood and adolescent care, universal immunisation services, family welfare, contraceptive, infectious disease management, common and minor ailment care and diabetes.

Namma Clinics will operate 6 days a week (Monday to Saturday) from 9 am to 4.30 pm. Apart from free checkups, free medicines will also be provided to patients.

ENT Services, Mental Health, Geriatric Care Emergency Medical Services, Pregnant Care, Baby Care, Child Care, Family Welfare Services, Infectious Disease Management, Complete OPD Services, Diabetes, Blood Pressure Checkup, Cancer Checkups, Oral Health, and health-related issues will be addressed and a total of 12 major health services are available in ‘Namma Clinics’ free of cost.

Each Namma Clinic will consist of a medical officer, a nurse, lab technician, and a Group D employee.

In addition to providing healthcare, the clinics, which are established in government and rented buildings with an area of 1,000-1,200 sq ft, will focus on creating awareness about government healthcare schemes. They will also create awareness about yoga, pranayama, dhyana and food habits.

The state government will spend Rs 138 crore to maintain staff each year, and is estimated to incur a non-recurring cost of Rs 18 crore to establish the clinics.

Referral facilities will also be available and patients requiring higher treatment will be referred to secondary and tertiary centres.

243 Namma Clinics In Bengaluru Urban

A total of 243 of Namma Clinics will be functioning under the BBMP limits.

BBMP is currently hiring doctors for managing 63 Namma Clinic. 180 medical officers have already been appointed.

In November, the civic body invited applications from MBBS degree-holders for 63 posts on contract basis. Doctors will be paid a remuneration of Rs 47,250 per month and medical officers heading Namma Clinics will need to have knowledge of Kannada.

Also Read Explained: Funding, Staffing And Services Offered By 438 Namma Clinics Set Up Across Karnataka To Provide Primary Healthcare To Urban Poor