PMCH: Better health

Ranchi, Aug. 1: The Union health ministry today told the government it would provide Rs 100 crore to Jharkhand for converting Patliputra Medical College Hospital (PMCH) in Dhanbad into a specialised hospital.

PMCH will be the second hospital in the state to gain the status after Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi. The government is planning to upgrade RIMS into a super-speciality hospital on a par with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi.

The Union ministry’s assurance to provide the amount followed a meeting between a Jharkhand team, comprising health secretary Shivendu and PMCH principal S.B. Das, and ministry officials in New Delhi today.

“The total cost of the project would be about Rs 120 crore. The bulk of the amount necessary to turn PMCH into a specialised hospital will be borne by the Union health ministry. We had a fruitful discussion with ministry officials,” Shivendu told The Telegraph.

He said the Centre had earlier agreed in principle to convert PMCH into a specialised hospital. Today’s discussion mainly revolved around the funding aspect and how to go about implementing it in a proper manner.

Health department officials said that under the project both the college and the hospital would be upgraded. New infrastructure — buildings and other medical equipment — would be added to both the hospital and the college. “Even the number of beds for indoor patients and seats of students in the college would be increased. Similarly, the strength of doctors and other para-medical staff along with teaching faculty in the college would be enhanced,” said a source.

A team from the Union health department will be on a two-day visit to the state from August 11 to discuss the nitty-gritty of the steps that needs to be taken to convert the hospital into a specialised one.

“The Union health ministry will help the state government in preparing the detailed project report (DPR). In the last week of August, we will meet the Union health ministry officials to finalise all aspects,” Shivendu said.

The Union health ministry has set a deadline of three years for the completion of the project, which is expected to begin by the end of this year.

At present the plight of the PMCH is virtually in a shambles, admitted insiders of the hospital. “There is severe paucity of doctors, paramedical and other staff in the hospital. There is a crisis of OT assistants and sisters to look after the indoor patients,” said a senior official.

PMCH superintendent Geeta Verma said the specialised status would be a boon for patients and the hospital staff. “Such a status would enable the hospital staff to provide better services to the patients,” Verma said.