Jaipur: semi ICU's to be converted to ICUs at SMS hospital

Also, patients visiting the hospital from other states are no longer entitled to free medicines and free diagnostic schemes anymore. They are now required to pay for the services.

As reported by TOI, There are 61 semi-ICU beds in the hospital. They have all the facilities including monitors, oxygen pipelines and other equipment, but they do not have the facilities of ventilators. "We are seeking help from the donors to come forward and donate the ventilators. So far, we have received 10 ventilators from donors," SMS Hospital superintendent Dr Man Prakash Sharma said.

At present, the hospital has 143 ICU beds and 61 semi-ICU beds. "If all semi-ICU beds are converted into ICU beds, the strength of ICU beds will increase to 204," he said.

"The number of total beds has increased in the past two years. Two years ago, we had 1,953 beds which has now increased to 2,296. But, as the number of OPD patients are constantly increasing, we need more beds," Dr Singh said. Now, as the number of OPD patients is on the rise, the SMS Hospital has taken steps to ease the pressure. The patients coming to SMS hospital from other states will now have to pay for the facilities they get in the hospital. They will not get the benefit of free medicine and free diagnostic schemes any more, said Dr Ajit Singh, additional superintendent, SMS hospital.