With increasing maternal deaths frequently casting a shadow over the functioning of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of SCB Medical College and Hospital, the State Government has finally moved to give the vital facility dealing with pregnant women from across the State a major facelift.
The Government is planning to develop the Department into a Centre of Excellence, laced with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities. A seven-storied complex would be constructed with Rs 8 crore earmarked for the purpose.
The complex would be an addition to the existing Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department. Both the buildings would be integrated into a composite unit that is being billed to be a top referral centre in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the country.
The land for the complex is in the process of being identified and is contemplated to come up over the adjacent space vacated after the shifting of the office of the Superintendent of the hospital. The project would be undertaken by a National organisation on turnkey basis so that it would be completed expeditiously and within a fixed time-frame.
According to sources, the complex would be an advanced Obstetrics and Gynaecology facility with all top of the range services available for the patients. It would have modern labour rooms, critical care units, high dependency units (HDUs), neonatal care units, OTs along with wards and other amenities.
It would also house seminar rooms, faculty chambers, a modern library and a museum.
While the project is expected to gain pace on demarcation of the land, the Government has also moved to strengthen the Department immediately. It has sanctioned about `2.50 crore for upgrading critical systems and expansion of capacities along with procurement of equipment.
The huge case load trooping in from different parts of the State notwithstanding, the O&G department is bogged down due to high maternal mortality rate. The incidence is attributed to referral of complicated cases by peripheral hospitals at late stages.
The Department is also facing a steep increase in cases following the introduction of Janani Surakhya Yojana, but is not equipped to handle them properly. While annual admissions to the department has gone up to 20,000, around 9,000 deliveries are conducted in a year.
The funds provided by NRHM would be utilised in increasing labour rooms and establishing a high dependency unit along with procurement of new equipment and replacing old ones.
“Due to the lack of HDU, we were facing serious problems in handling critical patients like those suffering from eclampsia and thus were mired in controversies in the event of a casualty. We are now ready to set up a five-bedded HDU with special eclampsia tables. Besides, labour room infrastructure would be upgraded with advanced equipment and instruments. Outdated machinery would be replaced with latest ones”, Head of O&G Department Prof Shyama Kanungo said.