50-bed critical care block to come up at Solan hospital

Ambika Sharma

Solan, January 21

The Public Works Department (PWD) is preparing the cost estimate of a 50-bed critical care block (CCB) to be set up in the upcoming multi-specialty hospital at Solan. Emergency, surgical and intensive care services will be provided in the block to patients kept in isolation.

“The Central Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had mandated the setting up of CCBs after the Covid-19 outbreak to have a dedicated block for isolating patients. Paucity of space in the existing hospital building delayed its construction despite the availability of Central funds,” said Dr SL Verma, Medical Superintendent, Regional Hospital, Solan.

Officials had discussed the setting up of the block at a recent meeting held at Shimla. Once an estimate is prepared, it would be sent to the state government for seeking funds under the CCB projects.

“In the absence of this block, an isolation block was created within the present set up of the hospital building to house Covid-19 patients in emergency cases,” said Dr Verma.

An area of 4,250 sq m is required for this block as per the guidelines issued by the ministry. Arranging staff for the CCB will be a Herculean task after the block is set up as it requires round the clock staff.

The CCB will house the trauma centre on its first floor as limited space was available in the new hospital complex coming up on the Kather bypass. No budgetary provision was made for the hospital in the current budget and Rs 29 crore granted during the tenure of the former BJP government have been exhausted. Funds from various central projects were being utilised to keep the construction activity on.

Though Solan is the home turf of the Health and Family Welfare Minister DR Shandil, little has been done to speed up setting up of this block which would go a long way in serving emergency isolation of patients in case of a disease outbreak. Though the minister had announced Rs 5 crore for the hospital building in November, funds had not been received.

Coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, diarrheal disease and neonatal disorders have been identified as the top five causes of mortality by a Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.