HYDERABAD: A day after its superintendent was transferred Niloufer Hospital on Wednesday got a new head.

Following the death of seven children in a day, which drew widespread flak, orders were issued on the transfer of the hospital superintendent, N.C.K.Reddy, on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday morning, senior officials from the Health Department met at the hospital and A.P.Gnaneshwar, paediatrics professor, was named in-charge superintendent.

Principal Secretary (Health) P.K.Agarwal and Director Medical Education I.V.Rao later inaugurated a blood bank, which remained closed for several months for want of a licence. The licence was procured on Wednesday.

More beds soon

To its present bed strength of 350, the hospital would add another 150 shortly. The staff strengthening process would be speeded up, Dr.Rao said.

Later speaking to presspersons, Dr. Gnaneshwar, said that two out of 18 paediatricians had reported for duty and one had already quit. Four casualty medical officers were appointed and three of them had resigned.

"They are paid a consolidated sum of Rs.10,000 on contract. The amount does not seem to interest them," he said. "If the rest do not report, we will select others in the list," Dr.Rao added. To tide over the situation, Dr.Gnaneshwar said the hospital staff would not be given leave till the year-end and those seeking leave on health grounds would be referred to the medical board.

A drug inspector also visited the hospital to take samples of medicines given to children who died while undergoing treatment here.

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