Times of India: Patna: Sunday,
April 13, 2014.
The
paediatrics department of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) does not
have an incubator despite over 6,500 deliveries taking place a year in the
hospital. It has only 10 beds for delivery in obstetric and gynaecology
department. Over 3,000 of the 8,383 children who died in the department in the
last five years were infants.
Replying to
an RTI application, the paediatrics department said as many as 995 children in
0-15 age group died in 2009, 1,204 in 2010, 1,918 in 2011, 2,049 in 2012 and
2,137 in 2013. The department said neither the neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU) nor the paediatrics intensive care unit (PICU) has an incubator. NICU
treats an infant less than 30 days old while PICU treats babies above that.
The
department also said a number of equipment in the departments are not working.
In PICU, three out of 6 pulse oxymeters (used for measuring oxygen saturation)
are unserviceable since February 2011. The hospital has 21 pieces of infusion
pumps. None of them is in working condition. Infusion pump is a medical device
used to administer fluids into a patient's body in a controlled manner.
One of the
two ECG machines is non-functional since June, 2010. One of the two
air-fumigators (room fumigation to prevent infection) is also not working. None
of the monitors is working as the adapter requires servicing. While suction
pump (to suck out unnecessary secretion) requires servicing, ABG machines
(blood gas analyser) are not working as the UPS attached to them needs
servicing. Strangely, three BP instruments received in September, 2013, have
been rendered unserviceable. Four pulse oxymeter sensors have gone out of order
while two are working. All models of 10 ventilators are working though.
With regards
to NICU, it has 21 beds. Six out of 18 radiant warmers (used for warming
infants) are unserviceable since February. None of the 10 photo therapy units
(for infants with jaundice) is working. None of the 'pulse oxymeter probes' is
working while six of the 14 pulse oxymeters are defunct. Four infusions pumps
are out of order.
National
Human Rights Commission has also intervened in the matter. It has sought an
action taken report from the department in 14 days.
State of
affairs at PMCH
·
No
incubator in intensive care units
·
8,303
children died in last five years
· About
6,500 deliveries take place every year, but the hospital has only 10 delivery
beds
· Many
instruments rendered unserviceable
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