The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is all set to modernize its 29 hospitals, six referral centres and 23 maternity homes with a Japanese grant of Rs. 3.48 crore. By March 2004, the BMP officials are confident to give the healthcare facilities a facelift and install the required equipments.
The aid from the Japanese Debt Relief Fund comes in the wake of a series of accidents caused due to lack of equipment and manpower shortage in the various BMP hospitals. With a freeze on recruitment by the government of Karnataka, all healthcare facilities will have to put up the shortfall of manpower. The aid from Japan will be utilised to install equipment that could help in saving lives with the available medical professionals.
"The BMP hospitals lack modern life-saving equipment. We cannot even take x-rays or conduct scans. The aid will give a boost to our hospitals," Dr. VP Ikkeri, deputy commissioner (Health), BMP told Pharmabiz.com
In this connection, the BMP has sought tenders from manufacturers and dealers of imported medical equipment that adheres to the directives of the Japanese Development Assistance Committee (JDAC). The equipment could also be purchased from the member-countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as they are approved by JDAC.
According to Dr. DL, Nagaratna, additional health officer, Clinical-South, who also in-charge of the BMP's mother, child, and family welfare department, a list of requirements had been sent to the Union Government. "Though a couple of referral centres have some new equipment, we need to modernise all our hospitals," she said.
The BMP healthcare centres need to purchase 29 double-puncture laparoscopes, 20 ultrasound scanners, 15 digital dopplers with NST, five hysteroscopes with accessories, three colposcopes with accessories, 60 glucometers, five operative laparoscopes with accessories, 10 no-scalpel vasectomy sets, and 10 operation theatre monitors and accessories (anaesthetics).
In order to provide regular training programmes, Dr Nagaratna said that a portion of the funds would be allocated to procure training devices, including overhead and LCD projectors, DVD players, audio systems, teaching screens, and paediatric mannequins.
The BMP healthcare centres also need to install 29 patient care appliance sets, including vacuum extractors with cup, blood pressure apparatus with pedestal stand, suction apparatus, resuscitation kits for adults and children, infrared rays unit, pulse oxymeters, foetal digital Dopplers, 20 hydraulic tables (OT), and 10 anaesthesia apparatus. "The life-saving equipment are necessary as patients could get a shock during delivery or slip into a coma during an operation. These equipment will help us to take care of such risks," she said.
The equipment suppliers from abroad would train the 54 doctors at the BMP hospitals on the machine handling procedures, informed Dr. Nagaratna.