Steps to tackle staff shortage in health sector

KOCHI:  Excise and Ports Minister K Babu said on Sunday that the government is ready to initiate steps to tackle the challenges faced by the public health sector in the state, which is suffering from a severe staff shortage.Speaking at a conference organised at the P S Mission Hospital here as part of the silver jubilee of the hospital, the minister asserted that the government was taking all steps to make life-saving drugs available at fair prices through Neethi Medical Stores.Apart from this, the government will also fund medicines for patients suffering from heart, kidney and liver diseases, he said.Speaking about the measures introduced to reduce alcoholism in the state, the minister said that alcoholism will be brought down by reducing the availability of liquor, by conducting awareness campaigns and through stricter enforcement of laws.As part of the hospital’s silver jubilee, the minister inaugurated a new hospital block and a cardiac care unit besides launching the silver jubilee scholarship.