Government Medical College and Hospital selected for 150-crore facility upgrade programme

AURANGABAD: The Union government of India has selected city-based Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to avail benefits under its Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Accordingly, the government has asked the GMCH to submit a proposal to sanction Rs 150 crore to upgrade it for rendering better and affordable healthcare facilities to the patients.

PL Gattani, medical superintendent of GMCH, said, "The hospital administration received a letter from the government seeking proposal under PMSSY for upgrading the institute.

Accordingly, a proposal would be sent for carrying out works such as extension of surgical building, renovation of record room, mortuary and many old buildings. A proposal to purchase essential equipment, set up separate operation theatre complex, central laboratory, extension of gynaecology and paediatric wards and increasing bed capacity would also be sent under the scheme."

"The PMSSY aims at correcting the imbalances in the availability of affordable healthcare facilities in different parts of the country and augmenting facilities for quality medical education in the under-served states in particular. The scheme was approved in March 2006," Gattani said.

The first phase of the PMSSY had two components - setting up six institutions on the lines of AIIMS and upgrading 13 existing government medical colleges. In the second phase, the government has approved setting up two more AIIMS-like institutions and upgrading of some of the medical colleges.

"In the third phase, selected medical institutions spread over 10 states will be upgraded. The project cost for upgrading each medical college institution has been estimated at Rs 150 crore, of which the central government will contribute Rs 120 crore, while the remaining expenses will be borne by the respective state governments," Gattani said.

"The GMCH, which was established in 1956, has been providing medical services to the people of Marathwada region since the last 50 years. Its popularity increased after a specialized cancer hospital was set up," he said.

"Besides medical services, the GMCH has been an excellent training centre for young doctors, nurses and students. The hospital, which had just 300 beds in 1960, is presently equipped with 1,050 beds. The special facilities available are ICCU, CT SCAN, ear nose and throat treatment, ophthalmology, preventive medicine, radiotherapy unit, lithotripsy unit, cancer surgery, plastic surgery, paediatric surgery, dialysis unit, blood components separation system, etc.," Gattani said.

"Apart from the region's 14 districts, the GMCH draws around 1,000 patients every day from Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. With the implementation of PMSSY, better and affordable healthcare facilities will be easily accessible to one and all here," Gattani added