Demand to strengthen govt. hospitals in Kozhikode

Government General Hospital, Kozhikode, handles emergency patient transfers efficiently, but needs more specialized doctors and resources for improvement.

The Government General Hospital, Kozhikode, was a hub of activity on the night of May 2, when patients from the casualty ward of the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) had to be shifted there after smoke filled its premises following a minor explosion in the UPS room.

The casualty ward at the MCH had to be shut temporarily and the Health department authorities decided to set up a similar temporary facility at the general hospital, popularly known as the ‘beach hospital’ because of its location near Kozhikode beach. A special help desk was opened to strengthen the hospital’s systems and ensure the smooth transfer of patients to the outpatient department, casualty ward, and other sections. Specialty cadre doctors remained on duty beyond their normal working hours. Ambulance services were also called in. According to sources in the hospital, the staff set up the temporary ward in around two hours. There is now a growing demand to strengthen major government hospitals in the district to handle such emergency situations.

Apart from the beach hospital, Kozhikode also has a district hospital at Vadakara. Functionaries of the Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) said that a triage system, similar to the one at the MCH, where patients approaching the casualty ward are directed to various departments, should be set up. The hospitals must be elevated to deliver round-the-clock speciality services from the casualty wing. To achieve this, posts for specialised doctors should be created to ensure that sufficient numbers are available to take shifts. At present, the number is minimal, with just four sanctioned posts even in major specialities like medicine and surgery. Posts for superspecialty cadre doctors also need to be created.

According to sources, the casualty ward at the beach hospital currently has one doctor and a couple of house surgeons on duty. The post of a neurologist is lying vacant, and the stroke unit is reportedly non-functional. It has been suggested that doctors specialised in cardiology, gastroenterology, and nephrology be posted there.

The KGMOA leaders said this would help patients in critical condition, who might then not have to be referred to private hospitals for expert treatment. They added that ambulances equipped with intensive care unit facilities should be stationed at these hospitals. Moreover, creating posts for specialist doctors in taluk hospitals, which currently lack adequate staffing, would help reduce number of patient referrals to district and medical college hospitals.