Mangaluru Central railway station has opened a 24×7 health kiosk offering nursing support, basic diagnostic tests, telemedicine consultations and ambulance coordination for passengers facing medical problems. A similar facility is scheduled to open at Mangaluru Junction railway station on Friday, according to officials quoted at the inauguration.
The facility, named Yenepoya Care, has been established in association with Yenepoya (Deemed to be University). The kiosk will provide round-the-clock services through a dedicated health team, including trained nursing staff, at the railway station.
Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, who inaugurated the clinic on Thursday, said the emergency medical room was intended to support more accessible and affordable healthcare. He called for local educational institutions, particularly medical colleges, to work together on models that can expand access to quality healthcare.
Passengers who experience a health issue at Mangaluru Central or Mangaluru Junction can contact the respective station management. Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath said station staff would coordinate with Yenepoya Care to arrange an ambulance or other required service through the hospital network.
The kiosk will allow passengers to undergo blood sugar, blood pressure and ECG tests in the event of a health concern. It will also provide a telemedicine facility through which passengers can consult higher-end doctors over a video call. In emergencies, patients may be shifted either to a hospital of their choice or to Yenepoya hospitals, according to the details shared at the inauguration.
The arrangement brings together Indian Railways and a private hospital to provide medical support within a busy transport facility. Railway stations can bring together large and constantly changing passenger populations, making immediate access to trained personnel and basic screening important when a traveller falls ill or requires urgent attention.
Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) vice-chancellor Yenepoya Abdulla Kunhi said the organisation was prepared to upgrade the facility as needed in the future. He said the dedicated team would maintain the clinic’s round-the-clock service.
The next expansion milestone is the planned opening of a similar Yenepoya Care kiosk at Mangaluru Junction railway station. The two facilities are expected to serve passengers at both of the city’s railway stations through nursing care, basic tests, telemedicine access and emergency hospital transfers.
