IMA to offer free health guidance from today

Mangaluru: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Mangaluru branch will launch an innovative project of providing free health guidance to the general public from Monday.

IMA Mangaluru branch president Dr Venugopal said that the public can dial 7022283999 to get free advice on health. By collecting the phone numbers of the callers, suitable guidance will be provided through the specialist doctors. The service will be available from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday.

However, doctors will not prescribe any medicine or treatment for the disease over the phone. They will guide on the availability of medical facilities and suggest suitable doctors.

Meanwhile, the IMA has been creating awareness on blood donation, health awareness, and ill effects of drug abuse in schools and colleges. The IMA is joining hands with the police department in this regard.

The IMA Mangaluru branch honoured Dr Ramachandra Bhat, who has been serving as a family doctor for the last 50 years, senior psychiatrist Dr Sathish Rao and senior surgeon Dr Jayaram Shenoy, with awards for their service to the society.