KOTTAYAM: The Petitions Committee of the Assembly, which held a sitting exclusively to consider issues concerning Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), will submit a special report on the various issues facing the institution, chairman Mons Joseph has said.

Speaking to mediapersons after the sitting here on Tuesday, Mr. Joseph said the committee was in the district to consider the various petitions which had been brought to its notice. He said the committee had decided to submit a special report, which would cover the various challenges faced by the institution and the suggestions of the committee on these issues.

Mr. Joseph said the committee would make recommendations for inquiry by a higher authority into the alleged trafficking of medicines earmarked for government hospitals.

While various issues concerning the lack of infrastructure facilities were brought before the committee, the one theme that came up again and again was the acute shortage of manpower faced by the institution. The case was similar when it came to medical and paramedical staff. The reason behind most of the issues raised by patients could be traced to the lack of enough hands on duty, it was pointed out.

The MCH authorities said though they had already set in motion a long-term plan to set up a comprehensive separate casualty unit, they were also planning to make some drastic changes at the casualty department which would help them to prioritise the cases on the basis of the gravity of the situation. According to the doctors, a large number of patients arriving at the casualty in the evening did not actually deserved to be there and this had affected in giving proper attention to the really needy.

Issues like lack of facilities at the cancer centre, failure to start functioning of the trauma care centre, problems at the Cobalt unit, CT and MRI scan units, the Institute of Epidemic Management project, the need to replace the 35-year-old generator, etc. were brought before the committee. The Medical College was represented by Principal A. Sudayakumar and departmental heads. In addition to Mr. Joseph, V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, K. Raju and M.K. Premnath were also present.

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