Bhubaneswar, June 6: Patients can look forward to improved health care facilities as All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has recruited more doctors and added 10 new departments.

The new departments are neurology, gastroenterology, paediatric surgery, oncosurgery, urology, neonatology, nuclear medicine, cardiology, hospital administration and medical physics. With this expansion, the number of departments at the institute has increased to 37.

"We have recently recruited 58 new staff members for these departments. They will treat patients and teach students," said AIIMS director Ashok Kumar Mahapatra.

The institute has also shifted and strengthened its obstetrics and gynaecology ward following demand from patients, especially those from Khurda and Nayagarh. The ward has been shifted to the second floor. The bed strength has been increased to 30 from the earlier 20. At present, the ward receives about 100 patients a day.

The administration has decided to keep the operation theatres running from 8am to 10pm instead of the earlier 9am to 4pm. Another addition is the introduction of two more operation theatres in the trauma and emergency blocks.

"Two more operation theatres in the emergency wards will be beneficial for patients as it reduces waiting time. We have also rescheduled the shifts of doctors. The trauma and surgical medicine wards will function on a 24x7 basis as usual," said Mahapatra.

An attendant of a patient, Kamal Jena, appreciated the decision to increase the capacity of the gynaecology ward. "We depend a great deal on AIIMS because of its location and quality of services. New departments will strengthen the healthcare facility," said Jena, a resident of Jatni in Khurda.

The institute has recently installed a high-end mammography machine, CT and MRI scanners. Sources said the new CT scanner, which cost the institute Rs 12 crore, was one of the best high-end machines used in any government or private hospital.

The hospital authorities have also launched executive health check-up facilities at affordable rates. One can opt for tests such as haematology, lipid profile, ECG, ultrasound, cardiac test, and liver functioning test among others by paying Rs 1,500. According to the administrators, these tests at other hospitals would cost around Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000.

"One can call the AIIMS helpline number and schedule an appointment. We have fixed Thursdays for the executive tests and limited the number of patients to five," said acting superintendent of AIIMS Dilip Parida.

The institute has also decided to offer postgraduate courses in eight paramedical subjects, including anatomy, physiology, forensic medicine, biochemistry, and community medicine, from July with two seats each.

Eight more subjects will be introduced from January next year.

The administration will also offer a three-year course in bachelor of science in medical technology with an intake capacity of 30 from this year.

This course will be offered in three streams and AIIMS Bhubaneswar will be the first to offer such a course.

The institute will also offer a one-year postdoctoral fellowship programme in critical and palliative care from this year.