Facilities In Hospitals Should Be Improved, Says Minister

Facilities In Hospitals Should Be Improved, Says MinisterState medical education minister Ramachandra Gowda along with local MLA N Yogish Bhat, visited different sections of Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangalore on Sunday (May 17) in order to gather information regarding the requirements and infrastructure problems of the hospital from the hospital superintendent Dr. Shakuntala.

Mr. Gowda was informed that Lady Goschen Hospital, which has 260 beds, was facing dearth of staff nurses.

According to the Medical Council of India rules, the hospital wants at least 90 nurses for the approved bed strength of 260. At present, the hospital has 22 staff nurses on rolls.

The hospital is forced to admit patients’ more than the available beds owing to the pressure of patients.

When Mr. Ramachandra visited the hospital, the hospital had 327 patients, and the extra patients were lying on the floor.

The minister said that the government is making attempts that every private nursing institution could appoint some of their pupils at the Government Lady Goshen Hospital on a rotation basis.

He added that suitable steps would be taken if a plan to establish government nursing school in order to address the shortage of nurses in government hospitals.

The minister said that a proposal to this effect has to come from the local MLA.

Admitting the truth that the hospital was over 160 years old and wants re-construction, Gowda said he would talk to the chief minister to discover possibilities of giving a hi-tech look to the facility.

Moreover, the minister also visited government Wenlock Hospital and met district surgeon Dr. Prabhudev.

To a question he said the Government is not considering any proposal to terminate the CET in the State as of now.

He clarified, "The seats remaining unfilled in dental colleges through the CET will be allotted to other students based on marks scored by them."  

He also said the government is examining a proposal to meet 75% of the fees of meritorious students who study in institutions set up by private parties.