In order to ease the unprecedented rush of patients, especially in the Gynae Ward and Labour Room in Jammu’s prominent hospital SMGS, Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat laid foundation for construction of 275-bedded additional block at the already selected site in the premises of SMGS Hospital here today.To be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 31.60 crore, the project comprises a multi-story building to accommodate 275 more beds in Gynae ward and Labour Room, parking facility for about 300 vehicles, provision of a modern lab, library and other allied facilities. The proposed accommodation has been designed to make judicious use of available land in the premises of SMGS Hospital for which the site was selected by the Minister in presence of Principal Secretary and other concerned officers of the GMC and SMGS in the month of February during his visit.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that both GMC and SMGS hospitals are overcrowded with the patients during the past over some years and the need for creating more bedding capacity in both these institutions is badly felt. He said authorities were facing acute shortage of beds in the Labour Room and Gynae wards of SMGS, with the result two to three patients are compel to share a bed.Presently there is a provision of only 48 beds in the Labour Room, the patients as well as authorities were facing a peculiar situation on this acute shortage to handle the flow of about 200 maternity cases daily.
Keeping the prevailing situation and future needs in mind, the Government has decided to construct the new block for accommodating adequate capacity of beds and parking lot for the doctors, staff and attendants in this paramount health institution of Jammu division, said the Minister.The situation is not different in the emergency of GMC where hundreds of patients are admitted daily with accidents and other serious ailments. There is also acute shortage of beds in the emergency and authorities and patients are facing lot of inconveniences. As an emergency measure, the Chopra Nursing Home will be connected with the emergency block soon and the space will be utilized optimally for emergency services. The provision of at least 200 more beds will be created in the proposed infrastructure, said the Minister.Responding to the queries of the media persons, the Minister said that the funds for the project have been secured under State Plan and project will be completed in a shortest possible time. As regards the shortage of doctors, the Minister said that process of selection of doctors has been fast-tracked by the PSC and it is expected that the Department will shortly get around 400 doctors. With their joining the ground situation will definitely improve, said the Minister. MLA Rajesh Gupta, Principal GMC, Dr. Sunanda Raina, HoDs, Dr. Shashi Gupta, Dr. Indu Koul, Medical Superintendent, SMGS, Dr. R.K. Sangra, Dy Medical Superintendent, Dr. Minakshi Kotwal, Executive Engineer, R&B (GMC), Utter Kumar Sharma and other faculty members of GMC and SMGS were present on the occasion.