Patna: Health minister Nishant Kumar on Thursday inaugurated a series of advanced healthcare facilities at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), saying the state govt was committed to providing world-class treatment within Bihar so that critically ill patients no longer had to travel outside the state.The projects include a Rs 10 crore Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (RIO) modular operation theatre complex, a Rs 7 crore 20-bed critical care ICU, a Rs 8 crore central CCTV command centre, an expanded Rs 8 crore dialysis unit and a herbal garden.The new RIO complex has six NABH-compliant modular operation theatres equipped with advanced operating microscopes for retinal, corneal, cataract and glaucoma surgeries. The project has been developed with Central and state funding in a 60:40 ratio.To strengthen security and improve administration, 500 high-definition CCTV cameras have been installed across the campus and linked to a 24×7 central command centre. Nishant said the surveillance system would help ensure better monitoring of hospital services.The new critical care medicine unit has 20 beds and is equipped to treat patients with multi-organ failure requiring advanced life-support systems, including prone ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and continuous renal replacement therapy. The dialysis department has also been expanded with 16 additional machines, including Bihar’s first dedicated dialysis units in a govt hospital for patients suffering from Hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.Accompanied by Digha MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia, health secretary Kumar Ravi and IGIMS director Prof Binde Kumar, Nishant inspected the new facilities and directed officials to prepare a dedicated action plan for treating paediatric heart disease and Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) among premature infants.The minister’s visit, however, also brought to light several complaints from patients and their attendants. A group of attendants surrounded him, alleging shortages of medicines, delays in treatment and poor hospital management. Some claimed they were being forced to purchase medicines from private shops despite the availability of free medicines under govt schemes.One attendant broke down before the minister, alleging his mother died after treatment for low blood pressure was delayed. Others complained of difficulties in availing benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and inadequate response from hospital staff.Taking serious note of the grievances, Nishant directed health officials to investigate the complaints immediately and warned that the state govt would maintain zero tolerance towards negligence, medicine shortages and any lapse affecting patient care.
