The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Cardio-thoracic centre for Gandhi Hospital

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Tuesday, Aug 19, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Cardio-thoracic centre for Gandhi Hospital

M. Sai Gopal

Centre to be ready by October 2

3 operation theatres, 2 ICUs, one pre-operative unit being constructed
Cardio-thoracic centre coming up at a cost of Rs. 3.5 crore

HYDERABAD: By October this year, cardio-thoracic surgeons of Gandhi Hospital would be able to conduct hundred surgeries in one month, which will equal the average number of cardiac surgeries done in any other corporate hospitals like Care and Apollo Hospitals.

European standards

State-of-the-art infrastructure, conforming to European standards, needed to take up such a large number of surgeries is coming up at a rapid pace in the hospital premises.

Three operation theatres, in addition to the existing two, two ICUs, one pre-operative unit fully fitted with required medical machinery are being constructed in the hospital.

Authorities have informed that by October 2, the new cardio-thoracic centre of Gandhi Hospital, coming up at a cost of Rs. 3.5 crore, will be up and running.

Interestingly, almost all the funds required to build such infrastructure is being raised by the Cardiology department itself, by taking up more heart surgeries under ‘Arogyasri’ scheme.

Presently, the department surgeons are doing nearly 45 surgeries per month through ‘Arogyasri’ scheme and are also able to run night time patient monitoring facilities, which is for the first time in any government hospital. The department has nearly 30 nurses and the ratio with respect to patients is being maintained international standards. “Instead of complaining about lack of funds, we decided to leverage ‘Arogyasri’ to better our facilities. On our own, we have conducted over 300 cardio-thoracic surgeries at Gandhi hospital and we have raised nearly Rs. 3 crore through ‘Arogyasri’.

This money goes directly to the hospital for development,” says Head of the Cardiology wing Dr. B.T. Prasad Rao. The authorities are paying ‘extra’ salaries to surgeons, paramedics, nurses and other medical staff from the ‘Arogyasri’ funds, making the whole cardiothoracic unit of the hospital an independent entity.

“Without depending on the government funding, we are trying to take up this cause.

We have to provide 24 hours service in cardiology and that’s why we need more workforce,” says Dr. Prasad Rao.

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