CM visits GB Pant hospital

With healthcare delivery taking a hit at GB Pant Children’s Hospital here, J&K Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed paid a surprise visit to the institute to take stock of the situation.

The CM’s visit to the hospital came at a time when papers are filing series of stories on poor healthcare facility at the institute.

While taking a visit around the hospital, Mufti directed for “relocation” of the Gynecological Ward to pave way for creation of additional capacity of 22 beds that can be utilized as Pediatric Surgical Wing. The CM also passed directions for converting the theatre currently being used for gynecological purposes into a pediatric theatre.

“Three Pediatric Surgeons will be posted at the facility and pediatric surgery will be started at the hospital soon,” said an official.

The Chief Minister also directed the Health department authorities accompanying him to provide Critical-Care Ambulances for the Hospital.

“The CM took a round of the Neonatal ICU and Pediatric ICU and it was communicated to him that the hospital authorities are struggling to find a space to install 10 ventilators procured under Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the hospital,” sources said.

An official spokesman said Mufti visited the hospital immediately after chairing the District Development Board (DDB) meetings of Srinagar and Budgam districts.

“While taking a round of the hospital premises, the Chief Minister was informed by the Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Dr. M. K Bhandari, that the hospital’s intake capacity has been reduced by 68 beds due to the floods as all the machinery, which was installed in the ground floor, had to be shifted to the Ward Section, located in the first floor,” the spokesman said.

During the DDB meeting of Srinagar today, the Chief Minister announced setting up of an additional children’s hospital in the summer capital, for which the Health Department will examine and submit a concrete proposal.