Kerala Hospitals Tackle Bed Shortage

In response to overcrowding at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College (MCH), Kerala's Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has directed that patients admitted to MCH but occupying floor space due to a lack of beds will now be accommodated at the Chest Diseases hospital in Pulayanarkotta. This significant decision was finalized during a recent meeting involving senior health officials and hospital administrators.

The Pulayanarkotta Chest Diseases hospital, boasting over 500 beds, is being utilized to manage the influx of patients, particularly during epidemic seasons. The initiative aligns with the government's commitment to ensure no patient has to lie on the floor.

Further measures to ease pressure on MCH include augmenting services at the General Hospital (GH) in Thiruvananthapuram. The GH administration has been instructed to expedite the setup of a canteen facility. Crucially, several medical departments, including Cardiology, will commence offering 24/7 care to distribute patient load.

Additionally, the GH will soon be equipped with a new CT Scan machine, facilitated by the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology. This advanced diagnostic tool will offer scans at significantly lower rates than private centers, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the hospital's development society.