Kangayam GH far from complying with manpower, infrastructure needs as per IPHS 2022 norms

Nearly five years after upgrade as district headquarters hospital, manpower in Kangayam Government Hospital is far from conforming to the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022.

After the Government Hospital in Tiruppur transformed into a teaching institution with the start of the medical college in 2021, the Kangayam GH was designated as the district headquarters hospital.

Though the hospital with 78 beds has now been upgraded with 58 additional beds and four operation theatres at a cost of ₹12 crore, for which the new buildings were commissioned by the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin through video-conference, the status of district headquarters necessitates provision of 300 beds.

With a strength of only nine doctors, including the Chief Medical Officer, the existing manpower in Kangayam GH is, in fact, lesser than the extent posted in the government hospitals in Palladam and Dharapuram where the patient footfall is comparatively lesser, it is learnt.

The average out-patient footfall hovers around 497 per day, and the in-patient admission is about 43. One an average, 21 major surgeries and 275 minor surgeries are conducted every month.

Going by the IPHS norms specify requirement of one doctor for every five beds, 27 doctors ought to be posted in the Kangayam GH for the existing and the newly-added beds put together, according to official circles.

Likewise, the numbers of staff nurses, technicians, pharmacists, and office staff are also far below the IPHS specification, sources said, adding that the district headquarters hospital is yet to be provided with CT Machine.

The emphasis of Public welfare organisations is that the Government should begin fulfilling the staff and infrastructure requirements of the Kangayam GH at least in phases in right earnest.