Himanta Biswa Sarma, the chief minister of Assam, recently paid a visit to the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) to assess the status of the building of the Mother & Child Hospital wing, a major addition to the state’s healthcare system. With a budget of Rs. 375 crores and eight stories—not counting the basement and ground floor—the wing, which has a total building space of 56,840 square meters, is expected to significantly expand GMCH’s capabilities.
Sarma met with senior health department officials and GMCH authorities during his visit, with an emphasis on important matters like staffing the medical college and hospital with more personnel and faculty, and filling vacant faculty positions. These talks show a calculated strategy to improving GMCH’s medical services in line with the state’s larger healthcare objectives.
Sarma is interested in supervising the development of the Mother & Child wing since there is an urgent need for a facility that is specifically designed to handle medical issues involving mothers and children. The increasing number of patients seeking care at GMCH highlights the significance of this specialist wing, which, once operational, is anticipated to greatly increase the hospital’s capacity and efficiency in managing such situations.
The Mother & Child Hospital’s construction is over 70% finished, according to the Chief Minister, with the remaining 30% expected to be finished by April 2025. This timeline highlights the government’s commitment to delivering necessary healthcare infrastructure within set timeframes and shows a deliberate effort towards timely completion.
Sarma recognized the roles played by the Cardiothoracic & Neuroscience Centre and the State Cancer Institute at GMCH in giving the public access to high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare services outside of the Mother & Child wing. This acknowledgement highlights the larger background of a strong public healthcare delivery system in Assam, which aims to guarantee healthcare quality and equity throughout the state.
Patient overcrowding is anticipated to decrease when GMCH’s departments—including the specialized ones—acquire dedicated facilities and undergo infrastructure rearrangement. This reorganization is in line with best practices in healthcare administration and is intended to lower the possibility of infections spreading between patients and visitors, improving overall safety on hospital property.
Sarma further underlined how critical it is to move quickly to fill open faculty positions in the state’s hospitals and medical colleges. This decision is a proactive step toward bolstering the healthcare workforce, which is necessary to uphold the highest standards of patient care and medical education.
In keeping with his commitment to sustainable healthcare practices, the Chief Minister also advised the GMCH authorities to consider switching to solar-generated electricity for their energy needs. This shift to renewable energy is in line with international initiatives to protect the environment and improve energy efficiency in healthcare institutions.
In conclusion, Sarma’s visit to GMCH and his orders show a thorough plan to improve Assamese healthcare sustainability, personnel capability, and infrastructure. The state’s healthcare goals and patient outcomes in a variety of medical fields are advanced by the emphasis on specialist medical facilities, timely completion of construction projects, recruitment campaigns, and sustainable energy practices.
SOURCE:
THE ECONOMIC TIMES
