INDORE: The 20-bedded Intensive Care unit (ICU) of PC Sethi Hospital- the biggest maternal care facility of the health department remained shut for a month because of lack of staffers and maintenance.
The officials blamed it on non-functioning air conditioner (AC) and lack of specialised doctors managing ICU. Superintendent PC Sethi Hospital Dr Nikhil Oza confirming it said, “The ICU remained shut for most of last month (April) because of non-functioning of AC as the unit couldn’t be operated without it.”
“Around 4 PG contractual doctors posted by National Health Mission left the job because of multiple reasons including selection for higher studies, jobs and others”, said Dr Oza.
The hospital has a daily OPD of over 400 and on an average daily 15, 20 deliveries. Of those, the complicated cases, women with any associated disease required ICU for delivery and post-delivery care.
The matter was raised before district administration during a review meeting of maternal health taken by Collector Manish Singh, who directed CMHO to inspect the facility and operationalise it.
CMHO later visited the facility and AC was made functional around two days back. There is however no woman admitted in the ICU of the hospital in the last two days. On it, Dr Oza said, “The ICU has been made operational but there are no patients in ICU”, adding that the hospital is struggling with lack of floor doctors as well.
Detailing about it, Dr Oza added, “There is a requirement of around one and a half dozen doctors. But, there are around only 12 working with three being on six month child care leave.”
“We have written about it to CMHO and NHM officials demanding for doctors for the hospital”, added Dr Oza. These things led to referral of cases to MY hospital increasing its load.
“There are around 50 referrals of complicated cases from PC Sethi hospital in a month, '' said an official requesting anonymity. Dr Oza said, “The referrals are very low. Only those cases, which we can’t manage, are referred to.”
