What ails Queen Mary’s Hospital: Defunct facility, patient overload

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) services at King George’s Medical University’s (KGMU) Queen Mary’s Hospital have remained non-functional for more than a year, while the 340-bed facility continues to handle nearly 1,000 outpatient visits a day, exposing gaps in specialised treatment, medicines and basic patient amenities

In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) services at King George’s Medical University’s (KGMU) Queen Mary’s Hospital have remained non-functional for more than a year, while the 340-bed facility continues to handle nearly 1,000 outpatient visits a day, exposing gaps in specialised treatment, medicines and basic patient amenities.

The IVF facility, introduced at Queen Mary’s in 2009, has remained shut amid issues related to procurement and availability of equipment and consumables. The prolonged disruption has affected women seeking fertility treatment at one of the state’s major government-run maternity hospitals.

KGMU spokesperson Prof KK Singh said efforts were underway to restore the IVF service at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the Queen Mary’s Hospital’s heavy patient load is also putting pressure on its existing infrastructure. With OPD footfall of around 1,000 patients a day, nearly three times its sanctioned bed capacity, patients and attendants have reported difficulties in accessing medicines, implants and other prescribed items through the Hospital Revolving Fund (HRF) store.

Prof Kumar Shantanu, chairman of the HRF, said non-availability of a particular medicine or brand did not necessarily mean that the required salt was in short supply. He said rate contracts, approved price agreements for procurement of specified medicines or brands were not available for every product.

On the issue, Prof Singh said an advisory would be issued directing doctors to prescribe only those medicines by their salt names that are available at the HRF store, and implants available at the store, so that patients and their attendants do not have to purchase medicines or implants from private medical stores outside.

Another pressure point is billing. Though two or three additional billing counters are available, patients said only two were operational, resulting in queues and delays amid the hospital’s heavy footfall.

The hospital also does not have a dedicated shelter for attendants accompanying patients. In the absence of a designated facility, attendants reportedly spend nights under sheds or a tree on the hospital premises.

Prof Singh said Queen Mary’s was an old facility that had been designed when its patient load was considerably lower. The university is now planning a 500-bed apex centre for women and newborn care behind the hospital to address the growing demand and bring specialised treatment for high-risk cases under one roof.

The project has received state government approval. A consultant has been appointed, the building drawing finalised and funds are expected to be provided in the next budget, Singh said. The final project estimate is being prepared.

KGMU vice-chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand has also previously outlined plans to strengthen Queen Mary’s infrastructure. The proposed apex centre is expected to ease pressure on the existing hospital, which remains one of the university’s busiest patient-care facilities.