LUCKNOW, Nov. 2 -- The state government has approved a Rs 1.97-crore proposal wherein the primary health centres (PHCs) at Mati and Banthra on Kanpur Road on the fringes of Lucknow will have a 15-bed facility each to admit patients, a King George's Medical University (KGMU) official said on Saturday. Both the centres are administered by the KGMU. "The proposal of the community medicine department to admit patients on 15 beds at Banthra and 15 at the Mati centre has been approved," said Prof KK Singh, spokesperson, KGMU. The admission of patients is likely to start by March next year, he said. The step is aimed at improving healthcare on the city's outskirts, he added. "Maintenance work and procurement of beds will start by November-end with funds approved by the government," he further said. Prof Singh also said, "If there are seriously ill patients (at the PHCs), they can be sent to the KGMU main campus for treatment. KGMU's intention is to provide better medical facilities to as many patients as possible along with medical education." As per National Medical Commission (NMC) standards, medical institutions have to operate community health centres (CHCs) as well. KGMU has a CHC in Sarojininagar area, and PHCs in the Mati and Banthra areas on Kanpur Road. Dr Om Prakash Yadav of the Banthra centre stated currently there is no arrangement for admitting patients at these two PHCs. "There is a lot of grass on the premises (at the Banthra PHC), which indicates that the centre is not being maintained properly. The situation is the same at the Mati centre, where medicines are given for dental and other diseases," he added. Only medicines are given to patients with cold, cough, and fever at the Banthra centre, he added. HTC...