Patients going to Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH) may soon get better facilities as the patients’ welfare committee of the health hub has taken a number of decisions to improve its condition.

Sources said among the problems that plague the hospital, the most serious ones are shortage of water, power and staff. Lack of cleanliness and sanitation facilities as well as waterlogging adds to the troubles of the patients. Students residing in the girls’ hostel also complain about lack of security as the wall of the facility has collapsed.

The Magadh divisional commissioner and chairperson of ANMCH patients’ welfare committee, Vivek Kumar Singh, presided over the meeting on Thursday.

Sources said he directed the ANMCH superintendent and secretary of the committee, Sitaram Parsad, to select a site on the hospital campus to construct a new emergency ward. He also directed to increase the number of bed in the emergency ward from 15 to 50.

Singh asked ANMCH authorities to sink three borewells to ensure sufficient water supply for patients. One well was sunk on Friday. He also asked the officials concerned to employ technical staff to fill up the vacancies.

Prasad told The Telegraph: “The construction plan for the new 50-bed emergency ward has been approved. The state building construction department will start work soon.”

He added: “Toilets in all wards in the hospital will also be renovated. They would be provided with new water supply connections, doors, windows and tiles for the floor and walls.”

The superintendent said: “Tenders have been floated to improve cleanliness and security measure at the hospital by outsourcing these services. The private parties to be hired will be finalised soon.”

Medical students who reside in the girls’ hostel have drawn the attention of Singh and district magistrate Bandana Preyashi towards the lack of security in their living accommodation since a portion of its boundary wall collapsed recently. Preyashi is the vice-chairperson of the ANMCH patients’ welfare committee.

One of the students said: “The boundary wall has been damaged by residents of slums nearby, who gather on the hostel premises to take bath under a tap. As a result, water accumulates on the hostel campus, causing inconvenience.”

Singh instructed Prasad to ensure that the boundary wall was repaired immediately and security guards were deployed at the hostel. The commissioner also directed the hospital superintendent to ensure that the doctors and other healthcare employees remain present on duty.

Regarding the shortage of medicines, Singh said the requisition should be sent to the state health society at least a-month-and-a-half in advance so that patients did not have to buy them from the market.