Mayo dean modifies 500-bed complex plan

Nagpur: Even before the plan for a new 500-bed medical complex is finalized adjacent to the surgical complex at the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH), the project has become controversial with five department heads (HoDs) confronting dean Dr Sanjay Bijwe.
Dr Bijwe, who took charge of IGGMCH in November last year, has modified the project’s proposal conceived in 2014-15 and endorsed by all the deans before him.

As per the original plan, gynaecology, medicine and allied subjects were sanctioned for the new complex. However, Dr Bijwe recently removed the gynaecology department from the proposed complex and shifted it to the surgical complex where the extension of two additional floors has been planned simultaneously.
In their letter to the dean dated April 7, the five HoDs from ophthalmology, ENT, general surgery, orthopaedic and anesthesiology departments said the move will leave the gynaecology department deficient of enough wards as per the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines and patient load at IGGMCH.
On May 5, the college council cleared the modifications overlooking concerns raised by the five HoDs. Surprisingly, the gynaecology department head is conspicuous by his absence in the protest.
Currently, the five departments — ophthalmology, ENT, general surgery, orthopaedic and anesthesiology — are running from the surgical complex. The gynaecology department is housed in another 200-bed building, which is about 40 years old. Apart from lack of proper facilities, floor beds are used to accommodate the extra load of patients, as per officials.
The proposed G+7 500-bedded medical complex now includes wards for medicine, paediatric, psychiatry, respiratory medicine, geriatrics and dermatology departments.
Earlier deans had distributed the wards to not only fulfill NMC criteria but also tackle patient load, the HoDs said.
Gynaecology, medicine and allied subjects were sanctioned for the new complex under one roof keeping the overall convenience and patient care in mind, they said.
Gynaecology ought to have seven wards as per patient care and NMC norms. This was fulfilled in the original plan for the proposed medical complex. The department was also getting an ICU in the new building.
Dr Bijwe placed the gynaecology department in the proposed 5th and 6th floors of the surgical complex. In doing this, the department has lost two OTs and two wards.
Gynaecology requires four OTs, one labour room, one labour ward and five more wards to fulfill NMC criteria and patient load.
The modified plan has just two OTs and five wards of gynaecolgy cutting two allocation of two wards.
Surgery and allied services like orthopaedic, ENT and opthamalogy had put a requirement of five wards to meet their norms in the surgical complex.
The modified plan may not leave enough room for all – surgery and allied services as well as gynaecology patient care.
Dr Bijwe denied that any objection has been raised. When asked about the letter, he said, “None of them (HoDs) came to talk with me,” he said.
HoDs said they wrote to the dean after talks failed to break the ice.
Dr Bijwe said as all surgical departments must be under one roof, gynaecology has been shifted. “There is ample space. We have received administrative approval. The PWD will take the proposal ahead,” he said.