The paediatrics wing of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) will add 24 warmers in its neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in addition to its 24 existing ones.

Warmers help to maintain the body temperature of the neonates (an infant less than four weeks old).

Paediatrics department head A.K. Jaiswal said tenders for the purchase of the additional warmers had been floated earlier this month.

The hospital is also planning to install proper ventilators and infusion pumps (used for giving fluids and medication to patients) besides adding the new warmers.

While Jaiswal said two of the six ventilators were functional, a NICU wing source said none of the ventilators were functional.

"None of the six ventilators are working in the NICU wing for around six months while most of the infusion pumps have also developed some kind of problem or the other," said a doctor of the NICU wing on conditions on anonymity. "Lungs of premature babies are not fully developed, which leads to respiratory distress syndrome and has to be treated using ventilator support. Newborns also need ventilator support in case of congenital pneumonia. At present, we are using ambu bags for neonates who develop breathlessness but it can only provide temporary relief. Children who need respiratory support for one or two days need to be put on ventilator support, which we can't."

NICU wing in-charge Jaiswal said a requisition had been sent to the hospital administration regarding the maintenance of machines, including ventilators and infusion pumps. "We have sent a proposal to purchase new ventilators and infusion pumps," he said.

The NICU wings of PMCH and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital are free for people and so poor people depend on these hospitals.