THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Patients are having a harrowing time following the suspension of surgeries at the general hospital here. The postponement of surgeries has been attributed to lack of water supply and AC maintenance issues. There are allegations that water for the main building is being diverted for the construction of new medical college complex which is coming up on the campus.
Health Minister K K Shailaja Teacher visited the hospital premises on a day when patients were at the receiving end because of the suspension of elective surgeries. The minister who went around the campus, acknowledged the difficulties being faced by the patients due to shortage of water.
She assured the authorities that the water issue would be resolved on a priority basis. With the minister’s visit coinciding with the water crisis, she could get the first hand feedback from the hospital premises. The facilities in general hospitals would be upgraded with state of the art equipment and technology, she added. The minister said during the first phase of government initiative to improve the public health sector, the focus would be on medical college hospitals.
Meanwhile, owing to water problems many surgeries that had been planned had to be put off. Pipe bursts inside the campus have also caused water disruption on many occasions. Though the corporation and health department managed to solve the issue by restoring water supply, the authorities say a long lasting solution is needed to the problem. The hospital authorities, however, denied that many surgeries had been postponed.
