Muzaffarpur, Nov. 23: The state government has decided to increase the number of beds by 300 and expand healthcare services at Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH).
It has also been mulling to set up a 10-bed intensive care unit in the paediatric ward.
Once the intensive care unit comes up, cases of suspected encephalitis, which rise during summer, would be admitted to it. SKMCH superintendent Dr G.K. Thakur today told The Telegraph that the principal secretary of the health department, Amarjeet Kumar Sinha, who was here recently during the chief minister’s Seva Yatra, reviewed the functioning of the hospital and ordered an addition of 300 beds.
According to Dr Thakur, during inspection, Sinha found patients lying in the verandah because of shortage of beds. The principal secretary felt the need of increasing the number of beds, said Dr Thakur. Later, the principal secretary, held a meeting with the heads of departments to listen to their difficulties, dearth of beds, doctors and paramedical staff. Dr Thakur said Sinha announced that the state government was busy with formalities related to promoting senior resident doctors to the post of working assistant professors.
The SKMCH superintendent said the principal secretary has asked him to start preparing an estimate and blueprint of the expansion plan of the hospital. He added that the SKMCH administration has also started formalities to apply for necessary infrastructure and medical gadgets needed for the expansion of the hospital.
The primary health engineering department has been requested to prepare a draft for the expansion of the hospitals, including addition of 300 beds, and proposals to increase the number of beds and create posts of medical officers and paramedical staff.
Sources said SKMCH needs at least 48 medical officers and 68 paramedical staff immediately to facilitate the smooth functioning of healthcare services. However, the vacant posts of teachers must be filled up on a priority basis. Health department officials have expedited the clearance of roster for filling up vacancies.
