No treatment for malnutrition in Sadar Hospital Jamshedpur

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 11: Special Rapporteur of the National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi and former IAS, Suchitra Singha inspected the Sadar Hospital of Jamshedpur. She collected data about the shortcomings in the hospital and submitted her report to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

All departments were inspected and the problems with the concerned departments were discussed with the Hospital Superintendent to provide better medical facilities. The shortcomings that were found included a shortage of specialist doctors in the hospital like general physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, gynaecologists, and physicians leading to patients being deprived of better medical services.

Presently, two operation theatres were available in the hospital. There was a need for modular operation theatre for better quality service. The Civil Surgeon informed that on the instructions of the Principal Secretary, Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department, and the Government of Jharkhand, the demand letter for modular operation theatre had to be sent to the department.

The Malnutrition Treatment Center at Sadar Hospital was not in use due to lack of space and non-approval from the department. At least one Malnutrition Treatment Center must be available and it shall be operable after getting approval from the department, noted the NHRC Special Rapporteur.  The Malnutrition Treatment Center was an integral part of the hospital.

It was found that there was a shortage of certain machines and equipment in the hospital like the ultrasound machine, currently operated under MOU by Health Map. Sadar Hospital, Jamshedpur does not have its ultrasound machine available which requires another machine in addition to a portable USG machine. A 300-mA digital X-ray machine has been in use for the last 10 years. The hospital needed the latest ultrasound machines, CT scan machines, and MRI machines. Four dialysis machines were in use at the hospital. Considering the large number of patients, three more dialysis machines were required. The hospital’s blood bank did not have a separator unit in spite of space being available.

A 100-bed pre-fabricated hospital building was under construction behind the hospital. Once the transfer was completed, departments that were not in operation due to the lack of space would be operational, like the Geriatric, Milk bank, MTC, among others. In addition to the above, Singha also inspected the OPD, emergency ward, dialysis centre, women’s ward, paediatric ward, ICU, and other departments.