New facilities inaugurated at Ernakulam General Hospital

Kochi: In a bid to enhance Kerala's healthcare system, Health Minister Veena George launched 11 new projects at Ernakulam General Hospital on Sunday. The initiatives include a specialized early intervention centre, a pediatric palliative homecare program, a revamped ophthalmology centre, and an innovative library named the ‘Bookstander.’

Speaking at the event, Minister George highlighted the remarkable contributions of Ernakulam General Hospital to the healthcare sector in the state and underscored the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance medical infrastructure across Kerala. 

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As a part of the event, the minister also inaugurated ‘Jeevanekam, Jeevanakam,’ the state-level social media campaign of the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) in the state. Its goal is to increase awareness to promote organ donation in the state.

Other key initiatives include the development of the "Thank You, Donor" mobile application, which provides blood donors with real-time information on blood requirements and allows both donors and recipients to register for relevant details. The ophthalmology department has been renovated, and a Fibroscan facility has been introduced to diagnose liver-related conditions. Additionally, the female ward has been renovated, and an antibiotic policy has been released to ensure better management and usage of antibiotics.

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The event also marked a historic milestone for the hospital, as it became the first district-level hospital in India to receive a license to perform heart transplants. This license was granted by the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (K-SOTTO) executive director Dr Noble Gracious to Hospital superintendent Dr Shahir Shah. With the necessary skills and technology in place, the hospital had already completed preparations to facilitate heart transplant surgeries.

In addition, Ernakulam General Hospital became the first district-level hospital in India to perform kidney transplant surgeries. In the past year, the hospital successfully conducted five kidney transplant surgeries.