The century-old Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital is likely to get a new gynaecology block and separate departments for cardiology and urology.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash R. Patil, who visited the hospital on Monday, told The Hindu that the hospital’s proposal to start these three facilities would be considered.
“The existing in-patient block will be shifted to the new in-patient block. The existing block can be used to house the gynaecology block,” the Minister said.
He said the Medical Superintendent would be given more power, especially for drug procurement and efficient management of the institution. “I have told the hospital authorities that if they want more powers they should be ready to take up more responsibility and accountability. This is my first visit to the hospital and I have taken stock of the problems they are facing in the day-to-day functioning,” the Minister said.
He said the shortage of doctors, mainly anaesthetists, would be addressed at the earliest. “I have been informed that the hospital does not have adequate manpower in all departments. We will initiate steps to address this problem,” he said.
“I visited all the wards and out-patient department. I neither got to hear any complaints from patients nor found any lapses in the administration,” he added.
Sources in the hospital said the Minister was apprised of the problems in drug procurement as the Medical Superintendent had to take the clearance of the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), to which the hospital is attached, for everything.
Sources also pointed out that the Minister had directed that a pharmacist Marulappa, who had got himself deputed in the tender section of BMCRI, should be posted to the Bowring Hospital as the hospital was short of pharmacists.
This apart, the Minister was also apprised about the need for an implant procurement policy and a limb centre with physiotherapy and rehabilitation centre for patients under the Orthopaedic department.
Hospital Medical Superintendent S.I.S. Khadri, Medical Education Secretary Rashmi V. and Shivajinagar MLA R Roshan Baig were present.
