Patients coming for treatment at Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Hospital will no longer have to run elsewhere for something as basic as digital X-ray. A machine was installed last Friday which has now started providing the service.
The machine was inaugurated virtually from Tarakeshwar by chief minister Mamata Banerjee and on site by local MLA cum fire services minister Sujit Bose.
“Patients admitted here or coming to our outpatient department for treatment can avail of this facility. So can patients who get their check-up done from other government hospitals. The service is completely free for the patients,” said hospital superintendent Partha Pratim Guha.
The machine was purchased by the government’s West Bengal Medical Services Corporation at a cost of Rs 1.31 crore, which included the renovation cost of the 479 sq ft room on the ground floor where it has been installed.
It will be operated and maintained by personnel from BP Poddar Hospital and Medical Research Ltd. which will be reimbursed by the state government.
This is the second major infrastructure upgrade at the almost four decade-old facility which had started as a polyclinic. Last February, another long-standing demand was fulfiled with a blood bank being inaugurated. “Our pathology laboratory is now equipped to do close to 50 kinds of tests including dengue detection. The only exceptions are thyroid profile and electrolyte test.”
Upcoming facilities
The good news is many more additions are on the anvil at the hospital.
A CT Scan machine is due to be installed next. “EKO Diagnostics has been selected for its operation and maintenance. The Siemens-manufactured machine has just reached us,” said Guha.
A proposal for a critical care unit was sent to the department. “A 10-bed CCU has been approved. Another proposal has been submitted for renovation of the space where it will come up. We expect the facility to be ready in a year and half.”
A five-bed dialysis unit has also been greenlighted. The funds for that will come from the North 24-Parganas district administration.
A piped oxygen supply unit is being planned for the emergency observation ward, the operation theatre, the labour room, the sick new born stabilisation unit, the critical care unit and the dialysis unit. “The site selection for the plant has been done and a survey undertaken by officials from the health department,” Guha said.
The digital X-ray machine ready for patients. Sudeshna Banerjee
Gearing up
Digital X-ray
Status: Started
Project cost: Rs 1.31 crore
Test cost for patients: Nil
Operated by: BP Podar Hospital & Medical Research Ltd.
In the pipeline
CT Scan
Critical care unit
Dialysis unit
Piped oxygen supply plant
