Kozhikode MCH authorities tight-lipped about reopening PMSSY block

The surgical super-specialty, accident and emergency care block of the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, was shut down following two back-to-back instances of suspected electrical malfunctioning earlier this month.
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh

The authorities are tight-lipped about resuming services at the recently built surgical super-specialty, accident and emergency care block of the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, which was shut down following two back-to-back instances of suspected electrical malfunctioning earlier this month.

Though Health Minister Veena George had claimed a day after the first incident on May 2 that steps would be taken to restart operations in three days, another fire outbreak on May 5 in one of the operation theatres led the authorities to have a comprehensive examination of the building before letting in patients again. Officials from agencies such as the State Electrical Inspectorate and the electrical wing of the Public Works department (PWD) inspected the structure built under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Personnel from HLL-HITES, the public sector undertaking which was the consultant for the building construction, too checked the facilities.

According to hospital sources, the authorities are awaiting clearance from the government. They reportedly do not want to take any risk by resuming services as they may have to take the blame upon themselves if any untoward incident happens as a result. They are also waiting for a final report from the PWD on the safety of the building.

Lack of space

The healthcare staff and patients, however, are reportedly worried about the limited facilities at the old casualty block to which the casualty ward was shifted after the fire-and-smoke incidents. A staff member said the space available at the old block was only one-third of what was available in the new building. The number of patients approaching the casualty section is increasing too.

Meanwhile, the district unit of the Youth Congress on Monday staged a day-long fast in protest against attempts to “destroy the medical college hospital”. T. Siddique, Kalpetta MLA, who opened the protest, warned of extending the agitation to the State Secretariat in Thiruvananthpauram if the problems were not solved.