Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 2: The number of patients visiting the four Ayushmati Clinics functioning in Mangaluru city has witnessed a significant increase, with growing demand for their expansion to other urban centres and rural health facilities as well.
According to health department data, a total of 11,908 patients availed outpatient department (OPD) services at the Ayushmati Clinics between April 2025 and January 2026. A large number of patients visited the various departments of the Ayushmati Clinics functioning at the urban primary health centres in Bejai, Padil, Bunder and Surathkal.
Dental care has recorded the highest footfall among all departments, with 3,571 patients availing treatment. Notably, Surathkal centre alone accounted for 3,488 dental patients. In terms of overall patient numbers, Surathkal centre topped the list with 4,806 patients, followed by Padil with 2,642, Bejai with 2,550 and Bunder with 1,910 patients availing OPD services, as per health department data.
The general medicine and paediatrics departments have also received a good response. A total of 2,670 patients received treatment under the physician/general medicine department, with Padil (935) and Bejai (882) recording the highest numbers. In the paediatrics department, 2,075 children were treated, including 897 at Padil, 746 at Bejai, 266 at Bunder and 166 at Surathkal. In the dermatology department, a total of 1,720 patients were treated, including 638 at Surathkal, 446 at Bunder, 365 at Bejai and 271 at Padil.
Dakshina Kannada district health officer Dr H R Thimmayya said that the availability of multiple specialist doctors under one roof reduces the need for patients to visit different hospitals. He added that patients are spared the difficulty of moving from one place to another and that the Ayushmati Clinics in the city are receiving an encouraging response.
Other departments of Ayushmati Clinics have also recorded steady attendance. The orthopaedics department treated 474 patients, obstetrics and gynaecology treated 429 patients, general surgery treated 380 patients, ENT treated 346 patients, ophthalmology treated 123 patients and psychiatry treated 120 patients.
As part of the initiative to build healthy women and a healthy society, specialist doctors conduct daily health check-ups for women. Under one schedule, physicians are available on Mondays, orthopaedic specialists on Tuesdays, surgeons on Wednesdays, paediatricians on Thursdays, gynaecologists on Fridays and other specialists including ENT, ophthalmology, dermatology and psychiatry on Saturdays.
Ayushmati Clinics are not merely treatment centres but also play a major role in promoting community health by organising health awareness programmes, camps, blood donation drives and women’s health awareness initiatives, said Shobha Mangaluru, staff member of Ayushmati Clinic.
Under another schedule, specialist doctors are available for women’s health check-ups from 9 am to 1 pm. On Mondays, physicians and dermatologists are available; on Tuesdays, surgeons and ENT specialists; on Wednesdays, orthopaedic specialists; on Thursdays, gynaecologists and paediatricians; and on Fridays, psychiatrists and dental specialists provide services.