Patna Medical College and Hospital will be able to handle any emergency during Chhath this year, senior health department officers claimed.
The personnel at the premier health hub were unprepared to care for the victims of a stampede at Anta Ghat during Chhath last year. There was no senior doctor on emergency duty when the injured people were rushed to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on November 19. As a result, angry attendants of patients had clashed with the hospital staff and vandalised property.
This year, however, the hospital will be better prepared to deal with any emergency, said Deepak Kumar, principal secretary, health on Wednesday.
He said: “We are taking a slew of measures. I issued an order on Tuesday to civil surgeons and superintendents of hospitals to be ready for any eventuality during the festival.”
According to the order, the hospital superintendents have to ensure round-the-clock availability of doctors, paramedical staff and emergency drugs during Chhath.
“I have also asked the Patna civil surgeon to set up medical camps near the major Chhath ghats. They would have to assemble a mobile medical team as well,” said the senior officer.
Sources said the health department has directed the civil surgeon to identify locations near the major Chhath ghats where the camps could be set up. “Each camp would have doctors, paramedical staff and specialists who would be present in shifts. The camps would also have ambulances at their disposal,” said a source.
PMCH superintendent Amar Kant Jha Amar said the health hub was ready to deal with any emergency.
“What happened last year shall not be repeated this year. We shall have the necessary drugs, and doctors, paramedics and other staff won’t be on leave. We have orders from the health department to not sanction any leave during Chhath,” he said.
Elaborating on the arrangements at the hospital, Jha said: “We have decided to start a 10-bed unit in addition to the emergency wing at our hospital. We have also formed a disaster management cell. The hospital ambulances would provide round-the-clock service.”
