Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2012 - 07:35 pm:

---

Tilak:

No responsibility from TTD

---

Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2012 - 06:15 pm:

---

Tilak:

06:09 pm

---

Posted on Saturday, August 18, 2012 - 03:18 pm:

---

quote:

HYDERABAD/TIRUPATI: A staggering 687 children have died in the Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia (SVRR) Government General Hospital in the last seven-and-a-half months. Considering that, since January 1, 2012, a total of 4,399 children have been admitted for treatment at the biggest government hospital in Rayalaseema, 687 deaths in this period is a figure which underlines how it is actually ill-equipped to handle serious emergency cases.

Despite the hue and cry over the issue, Ruia hospital seemingly continues to remain helpless with 64 children of poor parents dying in this month alone. Sources said that, remarkably, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which was supposed to manage the hospital, has recently written to the state government seeking exemption from any responsibility.

As per the official data at neo-natal and post-natal intensive care units, 1,814 and 2,585 children, respectively, have been admitted in these wards till August 15 this year. While 524 children in the neo-natal ward died, the post-natal unit saw 163 deaths. Hospital authorities said that a majority of the children in the neonatal ward had been admitted with jaundice and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (where breathing becomes difficult) apart from newborns with weight complications.

According to authorities concerned, over 205 children in need of intensive care are daily required to be admitted when the number of beds is a mere 90. That means three children would have to be treated on each bed.

"The infrastructure at the hospital is far from good. There is a problem due to shortage of doctors but the government is trying to address the same," mines and geology minister Galla Aruna Kumari, who hails from Chittoor district, said.

At present, there are two professors, eight assistant professors, 37 medical PG students and 12 nurses at the hospital. But the two associate professor level posts are vacant. As per the Medical Council of India ( MCI) guidelines, for a 90-bed children's ward there should be at least three professors, two associate professors, 15 assistant professors and 120 nurses.

Insiders said that a major part of the treatment was handled by PG students given a dearth of senior hands. "Even if the complete quota of doctors was available, their strength would not be able to deal with so many cases of children brought in at the eleventh hour," a senior doctor told TOI on condition of anonymity.

Ruia is the biggest government hospital in the Rayalaseema region and is affiliated to SV Medical College in Tirupati.

Economically disadvantaged people from not only Rayalaseema but also adjoining districts like Prakasam and Nellore frequent the hospital. A 700-bed hospital, the paediatric intensive care has 90 beds — 40 for neonatal and 50 for the post-natal care wings.

Adding to the shortage of doctors is the poor supply of oxygen. Three weeks back, three babies died in the intensive care unit due to an alleged shortage of oxygen. On Wednesday, when six children died, officials found that only 19 cylinders had been utilised for the benefit of the children while 37 cylinders were empty.

As per the rule, there should be five technicians on each shift to operate and monitor the ventilators. Shockingly, there is not even a single technician for the ward and most of the ventilators are operated by the nurses on duty.

Another shocking absence at the hospital is that of an infection control unit. The children's ward gets only Rs 20 lakh as against the required Rs 60 lakh in the budget (for three months). To purchase oxygen, it gets Rs 28 lakh whereas it requires Rs 68 lakh.

At a high-level meeting on Thursday attended by Galla Aruna and TTD executive officer LV Subramanyam in his capacity as the hospital development society chairman, it was decided that a comprehensive proposal would be sent to the chief minister to improve the amenities at the hospital. "We require an additional 20 to 50 doctors, 100 nurses and 50 security staff," hospital superintendent J Veeraswamy told TOI.

There was an understanding that TTD should shoulder the responsibility of running the hospital as per a partial arrangement to this effect struck two years back.

However, the TTD is shying away from its responsibility citing 'pressing engagements'. Begun as a small clinic in the early 50s, the hospital got its present name from a pilgrim from Mumbai, Ramnarain Ruia. He had an orthopaedic problem which was treated at the hospital and donated Rs 2 lakh before it was developed into a teaching facility.

---