Ashta Civil Hospital set for major expansion and service overhaul

Ashta: The Ashta Civil Hospital is set for a significant expansion, with a proposal submitted to the state government to upgrade the existing 100-bed facility into a 220-bed hospital. The plan also includes the introduction of new medical services and infrastructure improvements.

This move comes after ongoing complaints from local residents and public representatives about the shortage of medical staff, diagnostic services, and other healthcare facilities at the hospital.

In response, 17 new doctors have been appointed for various block-level health facilities, and four doctors have been posted directly in Ashta as part of the state government’s recruitment of 789 doctors across Madhya Pradesh. Additionally, a doctor has also been assigned to operate the hospital’s long-idle sonography machine, which is expected to start functioning shortly.

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Speaking to Doctor Post, Block Medical Officer Dr Amit Mathur said, “A proposal has been submitted to increase the hospital capacity from 100 to 220 beds. We’ve also recommended the opening of 15 new sub-health centres and the development of facilities in Jawar, Siddhiganj, and Bhanwara.”

The hospital’s CT scan machine has been non-functional for some time, forcing patients to turn to costly private diagnostic centres. The old contract for operating the machine was suspended, and a new tender will soon be floated to restore CT scan services within the government facility.

Additionally, the nearby 30-bed hospital in Jawar is proposed to be upgraded to a 50-bed facility, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen rural healthcare. Proposals have also been sent to the government to develop health centres in Jawar, Siddhiganj, and Bhanwara, and to establish 15 new sub-health centres in underserved rural areas.

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