Lack of emergency services in Super Specialty Hospital hurts

Both patients, doctors feel need, but Health Dept says no plans

DEEPAK KHAJURIA

JAMMU: The Super Specialty Hospital which started off as an AIIMS-level hospital a decade ago has now become a mere branch of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) Jammu and is a far cry from what the high expectations raised from it at the time of its announcement and launch.
The biggest drawback which patients and doctors feel three years after its inauguration is the lack of emergency services in Super Specialty. The demand is gathering momentum as both patients and doctors follows practical realization for the need over the time.
The announcement for setting up a high-tech Super Specialty Hospital in jammu was made on January 25, 2004 by then Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj when Mufti Sayeed-led PDP-Congress coalition government was in power in the state. The Super Specialty Hospital started functioning on May 6, 2013 and was formally inaugurated on March 2, 2014 by then Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Six departments, namely Cardiology, Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgery normally known as CVTS, Neurology, Neuro Surgery, Nephrology and Urology were shifted from GMC&H to this hospital. Earlier, these departments worked under the Medicine Department at GMC&H.
However, patients who come to Super Specialty say that absence of emergency services is a big drawback, especially when the condition is critical.
Talking to the News Now, Makhan Singh, an attendant of a patient of Nephrology said, "The lack of emergency in this hi-tech hospital is a big shortcoming. Critical patients first have to go to GMC&H from where specialists have been shifted here. The patients have to stay there till the doctors there diagnose the problem and then shift them here for treatment."
"We get good treatment here, the doctors here are very good, but lack of emergency services here hurts," said Rita Devi, an attendant of a cardiac patient.
Official data also backs up the demand as 50 per cent of total patients reaching GMC&H emergency on a daily basis are found to be suffering with problems related to the six departments in Super Specialty Hospital.
"As per records and data, normally 500-600 patients come to GMC&H Emergency and over 200 of them are related to Super Specialty," said official sources.
Many doctors at the 220-bed Super Specialty Hospital, on the condition of anonymity, agree that absence of emergency is a problem but then added that more infrastructure and space will be needed if it is planned.
The doctors also agreed that instant specialized treatment of chronic ailments in critical condition can help save lives.
HoD Cardiology, Dr Sushil Sharma said, "Emergency is required here. Even, we had suggested at the start that emergency services should be there."
When The News Now contacted Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr Pawan Kotwal, he said, "I exactly don't know about any such plan for emergency services in Super Specialty, but I will look into the matter."
However some senior officials of the health department said that there are no plans to start emergency unit. They said that no one ever thought of this earlier and if the government plans to start emergency services in Super Specialty, it will need to set up separate infrastructure for it.