Patna: Over 950 of the 1,947 surgical equipment units meant for district hospitals have been installed at a cost of around Rs 37 crore, a step aimed at strengthening surgical services and reducing referrals to higher medical centres, the health department said in a press statement on Thursday, adding that the remaining equipment would be installed soon.According to the statement, the equipment was identified after assessing the requirements of operation theatres at district hospitals. The Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (BMSICL) is overseeing the installation. Of the total units, 529 are meant for general surgery operation theatres, 772 for orthopaedic operation theatres, 502 for obstetric operation theatres and 144 for labour rooms. The equipment covers 50 categories of medical devices required for surgical procedures and related services.Health minister Nishant Kumar said in an official statement on Thursday that the state govt was working to ensure patients could access essential treatment without travelling long distances. “Our effort is to ensure that people in Bihar do not have to travel unnecessarily far for medical treatment. With better equipment, capable medical teams and essential surgical facilities at district hospitals, patients will be able to receive treatment in their own districts. This will also help reduce the difficulties and additional expenses faced by patients and their families,” he said.The department is also working to expand specialist services and enable district hospitals to perform 76 types of surgical procedures. At present, district hospitals have 190 functional intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 120 ventilator beds. Round-the-clock emergency and triage services have also been put in place to prioritise patients according to the urgency of their medical condition.The department said strengthening operation theatres, ensuring the availability of modern equipment and deploying specialist doctors were key to improving district-level healthcare and reducing avoidable referrals to higher medical centres.
