Kerala Govt medical colleges plan to increase bed strength

Thiruvananthapuram: Considering the 33% increase in inpatient (IP) admissions in GMCHs in 2022-23, the government has decided to make arrangements for increasing bed intake in government medical college hospitals (GMCHs). 

As per a recent media report, many GMCHs are compelled to use floor beds as they are unable to accommodate patients due to the increase in IP admissions. As a result, the government has directed that the construction work of the new hospital blocks being built at several medical colleges be finished quickly.

Due to the rise in IP admissions, many GMCHs are opting for floor beds as they are not able to accommodate patients. Hence, the government has proposed to complete the construction of the new blocks at various medical college hospitals at the earliest.

According to Health Minister Veena George, only a few medical college hospitals were forced to use floor beds due to an increase in the number of IP patients. The government is currently making efforts to end the use of floor beds by increasing number of beds in all the hospitals. It is anticipated that the new surgical block will increase Thiruvananthapuram's bed capacity by 250 beds, reports Times of India.

There are now 1,952 beds available at this hospital. Ernakulam Medical College Hospital is building a new super-specialty block, which would increase the facility's bed intake by 650 beds.

The existing bed intake of 850 beds at Kannur Medical College Hospital will increase by 160 once the work of the trauma care centre is finished. At Kottayam Medical College Hospital, the second phase of the cardiology block is almost finished and it will add 200 more beds in the facility.

The state government is taking measures to ensure the improvement of the health care sector. With an aim to strengthen the health infrastructure in the state, the Kerala health minister Veena George had also announced that the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIF) released Rs 605 crore for the renovation of eight hospitals in the state. The minister stated that the financial sanction for the funds needed for the development of the hospitals has been approved.