HYDERABAD: In a move to tackle the overload of government hospitals in the city with patients, cited as one of the reasons for the repeated medical fiascos, health minister C Laxma Reddy has announced that no patient from districts will be referred from government-run-area hospital or primary health centre (PHC)to district hospital or teaching hospital without mentioning in detail the ailment or health issue that patient is suffering from.
Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, the minister said it was due to lack of patience or willingness to take up the responsibility of a patient that cases were being referred to district hospitals and teaching hospitals in Hyderabad.
The decision was taken after doctors and officials pointed out that most of the high-risk cases, especially pregnancy cases, were directed to district hospitals and major hospitals in the city, which increases patient load. Recently, the issue was raised at a meeting held to discuss maternal mortalities in the state.
“We are establishing a system where in any case, not restricted to gynaecology, if referred, reason should be mentioned,” said Laxma Reddy, adding that facilities such as medical infrastructure at all hospitals were being improved to meet the needs.
The state’s health department has been facing heat after seven maternal mortalities were reported in span of six days between April 20 and 26. The health minister said that they were adopting all means to bring down the maternal mortality rate.
“As the two-hour period immediately after a ceasarean surgery is important and good care is required, we are improving post-operative care. Maternal ICU started functioning at Niloufer Hospital. An ICU at the Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj too will start functioning soon,” Reddy said.
To help pregnant women from a poor economic background and to encourage deliveries at government hospitals, the government will transfer ` 12,000 ( in three instalments) to the women. An additional amount of ` 1,000 will be given if the newborn is a girl. The amount will be transferred directly to the bank account of the woman concerned to eliminate middlemen.
“To ensure that newborns grow in a clean environment, KCR kits consisting of diapers, mosquito nets, baby soaps and other things will be distributed,” he said.
Stillborn baby ‘kept in box’ at Niloufer Hospital
A still born baby was allegedly kept in a cardboard box by staff of Niloufer Hospital before being handed over to family members. Anusha gave birth to a still born baby on Tuesday at the hospital. “We brought Anusha to the hospital in the morning. After birth of stillborn baby, a nurse kept the baby in a cardboard box and handed over to us,” alleged Sunitha, Anusha’s mother.
Substandard drugs not used, insists Laxma
Responding to a query on five post-delivery deaths at Niloufer Hospital three months ago, the health minister said he had not received any report suggesting that sub-standard medicines had been used in those cases. All patients who died were high-risk cases, he claimed.
Improvement of facilities
60,000
new bedsheets in pink and white colours will be distributed to all government hospitals soon. The different colours to ensure regular change of the sheets. Bedsheets of one colour will be used on one day and those of the other colour on the following day.
26 gynaecology units will be added to important hospitals. One unit consists of an associate professor and two assistant professors. Six of these units will be at the Government Maternity Hospital, Sultan Bazaar