The Department of Neurology, Government General Hospital, has emerged a beacon of hope to patients from economically disadvantaged communities from Guntur, Krishna and Prakasam districts.
Headed by N.V. Sundarachary, the department has stood out for its efficiency in diagnosing and treating rare neurological diseases.
Recently, the Rotary Clubs of Guntur Aadarsh, Rotary club Stockholm, USA and GMCANA raised funds worth Rs.75 lakh with which five ventilators, two monitors and two ECG machines had been donated to the Department. Koya Ramakoteswara Rao, an oncologist from the U.S. contributed Rs.21 lakh and Ravi Tripuraneni, an anesthetist also from the U.S., gave Rs.4 lakh.
The department has a fully equipped stroke unit set up with donations from the AMG India International.
Soon, the department is trying to get a Neurorehabilitation unit and sleep lab.
The department had its moorings in 1977 with V. Gopal Rao at the helm. Later, senior neurologists like G. Rammohan Rao, K. Krishna Reddy, V. Rama Tharakanath headed it.
Beginning as a 10-bed ward in the old campus opposite the Radiology department, the department is now fully equipped to treat patients with complex neurological issues.
A sea change was visible after the department moved to the newly built Podila Prasad GMCANA Superspeciality Hospital. It has a male and female ward and an ICU. Additional facilities have been created for patients like waiting lounges, recreation facilities and pure drinking water units in 2013.
Neuro care has been enhanced with plasmapheresis for treating Guillain Barre syndrome and nerve biopsies.
“We have also initiated Comprehensive Rural Epilepsy Education Programme (CREEP) to provide speciality epilepsy education, free of cost treatment and guidance of the rural epilepsy patients of Guntur district,’’ said Dr. Sundarachary. The department is undertaking research activities in “Epigenetic Modifications in Epileptic Patients. Why some are seizure free and others are drug resistant?’’ in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad
