Mysuru: The heads of various departments attached to Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI) while demanding various facilities in respective departments also asked to recruit teaching faculty members at a review meeting on Friday.
Heads also demanded extension of ICU, wards, basic facilities to faculty and students at three hospitals, K R Hospital, Cheluvamba Hospital and P K Sanatorium Hospital, attached to the MMCRI from minister of state for medical education Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, who chaired the meet at K R Hospital.
Cheluvamba Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr S Radhamani said that the new born babies unit in the hospital needs to be extended to maintain the crowd and keep it spick and span. The hospital conducts 14,000 deliveries a year. There is no proper space to accommodate equipment. The authorities have already submitted a proposal to the authorities, she said.
Likewise heads of department of Psychiatric, Ophthalmology Anastasia, OPD, Radiology, Operation Theatre (OT), asked to extend facilities. The Psychiatric department demanded 32 bedded ward to accommodate more patients. Initially, it has 16 sanction beds, of that 2 beds are reserved for other district patients. “The number of inpatients are high thus we could not manage the patients,” said Dr Rajgopal.
Dr H M Virupaksha, head of Pulmonary Medicine, PK TB Hospital said that the hospital lacked faculty and it needs assistant professors and lecturers. At present, only one surgeon is handling the cases, he added. Even many professors in various departments are at edge of the retirement and the authorities need to recruit faculty members, asked B Krishnamurthy, MMC&RI dean.
The heads also demanded more funds to conduct research activities. At present many doctors are coming forward to conduct clinical research. But, funds are not sufficient. If the government sanctioned more funds more research can be done, opined medicos. The minister asked dean to make necessary arrangements to recruit teaching faculty. The department wants the institutions to run in an appropriate manner without disturbing the patients and the government is ready to provide necessary facilities, said minister.
However, the medical education department has sanctioned Rs 18 crore for various facilities demanded by the teaching faculty in previous meeting. Though the funds of Rs 7crore sanctioned, the MMC&RI is yet to finalize tender. “We had issued tender notices earlier, but due to certain problems, none have been approved. The process will be completed soon,” said MMC&RI dean B Krishnamurthy.
MMC&RI facing dearth of funds:
The institute is facing dearth of funds to its maintenance and to pay salary to teaching faculty members. The institution needs 7.14 crore and Rs 13.47 crore monthly for its maintenance and salary, respectively. The institute spends Rs 21.40 crore per three months. However, the government pays Rs 83.76 crore, annually.However, minister asked authorities to submit a revised proposal to the government to sanction more funds.
M Lakshminarayana Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare(Medical Education), Mysuru Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, MP Pratap Simha, MMC&RI principal Dr K R Dakshayani, were present in the meeting.
Junior doctors stipend:
When Medical students asked the minister, why it was, that despite several approaches on the subject of stipend, it has been delayed so long Patil said the department has prepared a proposal on stipend. “I have spoken to Chief minister Siddaramaiah in this regard. CM has asked me to submit the proposal before the cabinet. The decision will be taken soon”. Answering a question from reporters, the minister claimed that no untoward incident, like death of patients, had taken place due to junior doctors’ protest. The problem will be solved soon, he added.
