Patna: 10 more beds at paediatric ICU of PMCH

PATNA: The paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) will get 10 more beds next month, making it a 16-bed unit. The new facility is being developed with an estimated expenditure of around Rs 1 crore, the funds for which had been provided by the central government.
Dr A K Jaiswal, head of the hospital’s paediatric department, told this newspaper on Monday that work on installation of new equipment and beds would take less than 15 to 20 days after which the unit will be ready for treatment of patients.

The paediatric department currently has two separate ICU units – neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and PICU. The NICU with 52 beds is basically meant for the newborns. PICU, on the other hand, is for the children from one month to 15 years of age.

The new PICU is being built keeping in mind the cases of children who need special care. “Cases of acute encephalitis syndrome from Muzaffarpur and other districts, which are generally handled at PMCH, need special attention. The new unit will prove beneficial for such patients,” Jaiswal said.

He added, “Other critical cases which require special care will also be handled at the new unit. The PICU will be equipped with all modern medical facilities required for treatment of patients.”

According to sources, the Bihar Medical Infrastructure Company Limited, a wing of state health department, has provided the equipment which will be installed at the hospital’s paediatric unit.