Patna: Health secretary Kumar Ravi on Thursday reviewed medical services, infrastructure and operational arrangements at Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) with a focus on the functioning of its new building, shifting of departments, patient facilities, manpower availability and future requirements.During a meeting with senior doctors, department heads and administrative officials, Ravi assessed the progress of relocating various departments, including radiology services, to the new facility. He directed the hospital administration to install clear signages across the campus to help patients and attendants easily locate departments and essential services.Emphasising the scale of the new 5,462-bed hospital, Ravi said its efficient functioning would depend not only on modern infrastructure but also on effective maintenance, sanitation, food services, security arrangements, lift operations, air-conditioning systems and other support services.The health secretary said the department is taking steps to increase the number of medical officers and senior residents and assured that PMCH would receive manpower support on a priority basis. He also instructed doctors to maintain punctuality and ensure patient-centric healthcare services.Prior to the review meeting, Ravi conducted an inspection of the hospital campus and directed officials to keep the water filtration plant fully functional to ensure the uninterrupted availability of safe drinking water for patients and attendants.He also visited the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and reviewed the facilities available there. During the inspection, officials of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (BMSIDC) were instructed to further strengthen cleanliness, upkeep and maintenance of the new hospital building and its surrounding premises.Among those present at the meeting were BMSIDC managing director Manish Pandey, Bihar Swasthya Suraksha Samiti (BSSS) chief executive officer Arvind Verma, PMCH superintendent Dr Rajeev Kumar Singh, senior doctors, department heads, hospital administrators and representatives of the construction agency.
