The Health department in Kerala is reportedly taking steps to strengthen district and taluk-level government hospitals to reduce the rush of patients to medical college hospitals (MCHs).

According to official sources, the attempt is to avoid the situation of patients lying on the floor in wards. A pilot project for the purpose is being implemented as part of the 100-day action plan of the newly elected United Democratic Front (UDF) government at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. Subsequently, it is expected to be rolled out in other government hospitals across the State.

The sources said that a “back-referral” system would be implemented in the MCHs. If these hospitals get patients more than the allotted bed strength, they would not be admitted there. Instead, the patients would be given the initial treatment and referred back to district and taluk hospitals near their native places. Ahead of implementing this, the facilities in district and taluk hospitals would be improved.

Specialist doctors

Considering the shortage of specialist doctors in district and taluk hospitals, those in general cadre with speciality degrees would be appointed there on a working arrangement basis, the sources said. Some of the taluk and district hospitals were found to have multi-storeyed buildings constructed under various projects, but without electricity, water, equipment, staff and other facilities. Steps were being taken to utilise such buildings to accommodate patients. In some other hospitals, the buildings constructed for isolation wards and dialysis units were not being utilised. They would be readied for admitting patients, the sources said.

Meanwhile, at least eight wards in the Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, are filled with patients suffering from fever and other seasonal illnesses. Though the old casualty ward is being used to admit patients in the General Medicine department, it was not helping to ease the situation, the sources said.