One-and-a-half years after Government takeover of medical college at Kalamassery, the hospital still does not have any superspecialty services.
Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology and Gastroenterology are some of main departments for which the medical college is getting more patients, either directly or through referral system. However, only after reaching the medical college that the public finds out that they have to go elsewhere due to lack of proper departments here.
The medical college hospital on many occasions used the ambulance service to shift patients elsewhere, said a top official in the hospital.
The number of outpatients department has gone up from 500-600 to about 1,000 a day over the past three months. Of the 1,000 patients there could be about 200 who require superspecialty services. They are referred to other medical colleges after conducting diagnostic tests. The medical college continues to run the Cardiology department with a single-day OP by a doctor from outside.
The hospital is struggling to provide proper care due to staff shortage in all departments.
“It is not just lack of doctors, the hospital is in short supply of para-medical staff, drugs, beds, linen and all other supporting materials that help provide better care”, said a senior doctor at the medical college hospital.
The numbers of patients have increased as there is a lull in negative publicity about the medical college, quipped one of the doctors. The doctors in the hospital are definitely stressed out. Due to the prevailing uncertainty, many doctors have left the medical college services. More doctors are required as it is not the quantum but quality that matters in patient care”, the doctor pointed out.
All developments regarding the medical college are on hold because of lack of integration of the institution with the Directorate of Medical Education.
However, starting superspecialty services does not require full integration, opined various professors.
The Chief Minister had said last August that Cardiology department would begin immediately, but eight months down the line no superspecialty service has so far become part of medical college.
