24th January, 2024Namchi 24th January, 2024: In a coordination and review programme of the Department of Health and Family Welfare Government of Sikkim, the Health Secretary, Dr. AB Karki, conducted a meeting with the CMO, staffs of District Hospital, incharge of PHCs, all MLHP, MPHW, tele-medicine administrators, staffs of PMJAY and education educators of Namchi District Hospital, PHCs, PHSCs, CHCs, UHWCs, today. 

Currently, only 3 medical specialists are available in Namchi District Hospital, and setups are almost 30years back, and in dire need of a microbiologist to avoid common infections, dual power supply for uninterrupted OT, and lacking of proper heating system for elderly, sufficient medical staffs, drugs and enough medicines, vaccines, ambulance, furnitures for working basic efficiency, and certified PHCs, PHSCs and CHCs.

The meeting was conducted in the conference room of Namchi District Hospital, with the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. SN Adhikari, highlighting the demographic review of NDH, and presenting various problems and issues faced by the administration of NDH and its branch PHCs and PHSCs in the District. The CMO also presented with the issues with the new hospital which is being constructed in Singithang Namchi. The concerned HoDs of NDH too, presented with the departmental achievements and the status and issues of new hospital.

Whereas, the District Coordinators of ABHA ID, HMIS, Tele Consultation and PMJAY Card, shared the current status of their respective schemes, while stating that the reports and grievances were already forwarded to the Health Secretary and the CMO. The statuses of AYUSH Food Safety and Drugs, and warehouses too were shared by AYUSH MO, FSO and senior MSO respectively. 

While referring to the statuses presented by the CMO and health workers of NDH, they declared that the new hospital is disqualifying on almost all equipments, placements, and other basic amenities. They also mentoined that the currently working hospital lacks sufficient staffs, office expense funds, and basic necessities like inverter, radiation proof rooms, rooms for staffs on night duty, furnitures, proper working machines, and many more.

The presentations made by the staffs also shared that, with the passage of time, the numbers of employees have increased in NDH and the numbers of referrals to the hospital, as well as the number of admissions too have increased. And with them, the improvement in need for the adequate, accurate and on time functioning of each of them were mentioned. They could be solved with the proper machines, increase in staffs, and sufficient reagents supply, the presenters suggested. 

However, main grievances from the CMO, concerned HoDs, coordinator, were the increased issues and lacking of rooms, amenities and certifiable facilities for almost all the departments and units in the 500 bedded new hospital, currently being constructed in Singithang Namchi. 

Currently, only 3 medical specialists are available in Namchi District Hospital, and setups are almost 30years back, and in dire need of a microbiologist to avoid common infections, dual power supply for uninterrupted OT, and lacking of proper heating system for elderly, sufficient medical staffs, drugs and enough medicines, vaccines, ambulance, furnitures for working basic efficiency, and certified PHCs, PHSCs and CHCs.

Eventhough, the PHCs are able to make average medical achievements, the medical in-charge of these PHCs, the lacking of manpower and drugs.

The District Nodal Officer, of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Sikkim, Dr. Ugen Sherpa, while addressing the issues of new hospital, stated that the design and facilities are next to useless, and suggested that the new hospital must be elderly-friendly for increased population of above 30 years old of current population index.

The Additional Director, of HFW, Chopel Bhutia, assured in the increased administrative expenses for NDH, in next financial year. 

Chief mechanical engineer, stated, workshops for South-west health vehicles and other will be soon addressed. 

During his speech, the Health Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Sikkim, Dr. AB Karki, addressed to the statuses presented by all, and maintained that the matters will be forwarded to the finance department of the government of Sikkim unfailingly. He suggested that the health workers must take their responsibility to the people and society, and make health a responsibility of every citizens. He also advised, that the PHSCs can directly approach Gram Panchayats fir development of the centres, and advised that being adopted from Company CSR will be made possible bybthe Department. Other than that, the health Secretary also shared that appealing society above poverty lines for minimal payments, welcoming suggestions and ideas, and calling for people’s participation will be made in the near future. He also made the declaration that the Department of H&FW was not responsible for building and setup of the new hospital which is being constructed in Singithang Namchi. But, he have said that a team of doctors from Namchi can make their suggestions on them. 

The Health Secretary also said that the need for the equipments will be fulfilled through respective panchayats and Social Welfare Department. The Secretary also suggested on the consultation and handling of patients in non interpersonal ways. 

Earlier, the secretary of Health and Family Welfare Government of Sikkim, Dr. AB Karki, inaugurated the Pradhan Mantri Jan Ausadhi Kendra, at Namchi District Hospital, in the presence of DC Namchi, Annapurna Alley, CMO Namchi, Dr. SN Adhikari, and proprietor Kul Prasad Chettri, and other dignitaries from NDH.