Children's speciality hospital ill-equipped

Hospital does not have waiting room, specialists

Even after eight years of existence, the 216-bedded Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, the only super-speciality hospital for children under the Delhi government, is yet to establish few departments which are commonly sought for in pediatric care.

CNBC, was inaugurated in 2003. It is the first public hospital in India to receive accreditation from National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers.

However, a board outside the outpatient department mentions the services that are not available in the hospital. They are – heart-surgery, neuro-surgery, burns and plastic surgery and treatment in case of multiple injuries. 

“We do not have enough resources and land to build these departments. In fact in existing departments, sometimes one room is shared by four consultants," said Dr K Karla, Medical Superintendent, CNBC.

Patients, who do not receive services due to non-availability of specialists, are referred to GB Pant Hospital. This takes a toll on the patient and the family. Those who come from the economically backward sections are sent to private hospitals which have EWS reservation.

Parth, 4, came to CNBC to get treated for swelling of brain. After one week and several tests, that included a CT Scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), the doctors said  he needed neuro-surgery, which is unavailable in the hospital.The outstation family had, by then, already spent a huge amount staying in the capital.

No waiting room
CNBC receives 600-700 patients a day in winters. But it does not have a waiting room for the general ward. The Delhi government had asked for land for the remaining super-speciality services,too.  But the authorities claim that the DDA has been lethargic about this for many years.

"There is a huge piece of land available next to the hospital. But DDA has not granted us the land," said a senior official in the Health Department.