Kolkata, July 9 -- Acknowledging that state-run hospitals lack the capacity to handle major disasters, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said West Bengal needs a dedicated trauma care centre capable of providing primary treatment to at least 250 patients simultaneously.
He also announced that the Adani Group will set up a 2000-bed international-standard hospital in New Town, with 1000 beds reserved for poor patients.
Adhikari made the announcements after paying a surprise visit to Swasthya Bhawan, where he reviewed the progress of a hospital monitoring system at the state health department's control room aimed at improving patient care.
Referring to the Taratala warehouse collapse, the Chief Minister said: "After witnessing the Taratala incident, I have asked the concerned health officials to lay stress on setting up a trauma care centre. If there is a disaster, government hospitals can handle only 50 to 100 patients. There should be a trauma care centre in the state that can treat 250 patients at a time."
He said a large tract of vacant land was available within the premises of government medical colleges and that the Health minister and Health Secretary would decide the location of the proposed facility.
The Chief Minister also announced that the state had signed an agreement with the Adani Group to establish a 2,000-bed international-standard hospital in New Town, with 1,000 beds earmarked for poor patients.
Adhikari reiterated that private hospitals built on government land had agreed to reserve 10 per cent of their beds free of cost for economically weaker sections. Although the original agreements required them to earmark 15 per cent of beds, he said: "Moving from nothing to 10 per cent is a good beginning," and expressed hope that the hospitals would eventually fulfil the original commitment.
Reviewing the CCTV-based hospital monitoring system, Adhikari said it was already operational in 15-16 state-run hospitals in Kolkata and a few district hospitals. He directed officials to extend the system to all subdivision hospitals by July 30.
"The live hospital monitoring system will be expanded to all subdivision hospitals by July 30. The surveillance will not be limited to emergency wards and OPDs but will also cover kitchens, parking areas and fair price medicine shops to ensure transparency, cleanliness and better patient care," he said, adding that the system was aimed at curbing the menace of touts.
The Chief Minister later held a meeting with Health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee and senior departmental officials. After the meeting, he announced that 250 beds would be added to the state-run SSKM Hospital in south Kolkata, possibly before Durga Puja this year. He also directed officials to increase the hospital's ICU capacity from around 112 beds to 200 to reduce the burden on patients.
Adhikari further announced that the daily food allocation for patients in government hospitals had been increased from Rs 54 to Rs 110 for three meals. Allocations under nutrition schemes for schoolchildren, pregnant women and children below five years have also been enhanced.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.