Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), which has been grappling with the crisis of an ageing fleet of buses, has now become concerned over the health of its employees. To address this issue, the corporation has opened a medical wing to help its staff prevent various diseases and reduce stress. A medical board also has been constituted. KSRTC realized the gravity of the situation after 27 of its employees died during duty owing to heart disease last year. Several others are undergoing treatment for cancer. Incidentally, the KSRTC authorities had conducted medical camps for employees where it was found that a large section of the staff was suffering from various diseases.

Facilities for employees
Under the new initiative, a medical officer has been appointed for the first time at KSRTC’s chief office in Thiruvananthapuram. A telemedicine unit has also been opened at the office, and employees across the state can speak to the doctor there via video call from 9.30 to 11.30 am. KSRTC has purchased new software to carry out bookings by employees for the consultation, which will be conducted five days a week. Prescriptions will be sent via WhatsApp.

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Further, KSRTC will start a medical examination unit with the support of the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, and space has been allotted for the purpose in Thiruvananthapuram. It is planned to open similar examination units at three more locations in the state, where employees and their family members can carry out full-body checkups for Rs 900. Yet another initiative is to arrange four mobile medical units with sponsorship; one unit has already become operational. Authorities said that the medical units will conduct monthly visits in all depots and carry out checkups. Employees who are found to suffer from serious diseases would be treated at private hospitals, for which Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar has initiated discussions.

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