Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
The Jharkhand Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department on Thursday reviewed the functioning of Sadar hospitals and medical colleges across the state, focusing on specialised healthcare, hospital management and modern medical technology.
The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh and attended by senior officials, including Special Secretary Dr Neha Arora and National Health Mission Campaign Director Shashi Prakash Jha.
During the review of Sadar hospitals, Singh sought information on phacoemulsification surgery for cataract patients. Most districts reported that the procedure was already available. Doctors from districts without the facility will be trained at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, in batches of four.
The status of orthopaedic surgery was also reviewed, with officials directed to promptly report problems requiring departmental intervention.
The meeting discussed the appointment of 125 hospital managers to strengthen hospital administration. Each district will receive two managers, while one community health centre in every Assembly constituency will be upgraded and provided with a manager. Subdivision hospitals will also get hospital managers.
The managers will oversee hospital operations round the clock, including paramedical staffing, security, patient facilities, gate-pass systems and Ayushman Bharat-related services.
Singh directed officials to ensure the appointment of specialist doctors in all districts. The recruitment process will begin shortly through newspaper advertisements.
The department also reviewed plans for 50-bed maternity and child health (MCH) hospitals, with around 10 doctors proposed for each facility. The hospitals are planned on a double-specialty model.
Plans to develop all Sadar hospitals as multi-specialty facilities were also discussed, including requirements for machinery, manpower and infrastructure.
Officials reviewed trauma centres and projects under the PM-ABHIM scheme, including expenditure, construction progress, payments and pending issues. Civil surgeons were instructed to coordinate with deputy commissioners to accelerate work. The expenditure status of projects under the 15th Finance Commission, hospital maintenance schemes and mobile village clinics was also reviewed.
Hospitals were directed to strengthen preparedness for the prevention and management of swine flu cases.
The department subsequently reviewed medical colleges, including preparations for increasing UG and PG seats, infrastructure, equipment, HMIS implementation and hospital operations.
Emphasising advanced healthcare technology, Singh directed medical colleges to introduce robotic surgery and said the required equipment would be provided. The availability of phaco machines and other medical equipment was also reviewed.
Faculty shortages at some medical colleges were discussed, with contractual appointments suggested where necessary.
Singh said upgrading hospitals and medical colleges with modern technology, adequate manpower and quality healthcare facilities remains a priority of the state government.
