The administrators of Government Lady Goschen and the Regional Advanced Paediatric Care Centre (RAPCC) have sought better facilities to provide quality and affordable healthcare to women and children. They made the plea before the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, N. Sivasailam, during a review meeting held at Government Wenlock Hospital here on Saturday.
A representative from Wenlock Hospital said the State government was yet to sanction funds and staff necessary for 144 beds at the RAPCC centre functioning on the premises of Wenlock Hospital. Paediatrician Shantaram Baliga from the RAPCC said they propose to increase the bed strength from 144 to 200. To this, Mr. Sivasailam asked Wenlock Hospital administrators to place a fresh proposal for 200 beds, which he will place before the Cabinet for approval.
Dr. Baliga said Government Lady Goschen Hospital should function as a Regional Hospital as 40 per cent of women treated at the hospital were from Hassan, Chickmagalur, Shimoga and Kasaragod districts.
He said the RAPCC and Lady Goschen Hospital should also turn out into regional training centres.
Blood bankLady Goschen Hospital’s Superintendent M.M. Shakuntala said a proposal to permit the hospital to operate the Blood Bank was pending with the government. She said space needed to be provided to Red Cross Society that will be running the Blood Bank. “I do not know why it has not come to me (so far). I will approve it right away,” Mr. Sivasailam said.
Mr. Sivasailam said telemedicine facility should be among the facilities that have to come up at RAPCC and Lady Goschen Hospital.