J&K House committee asks govt to build new paediatric hospital

A house committee of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which probed the high number of infant deaths in the Valley’s only children hospital here, has recommended setting up of a new 300 bed state-of-the-art paediatric hospital besides improving functioning of the GB Pant Hospital.

In the wake of uproar over the mounting infant deaths in the hospital early this year, Speaker M A Lone had on May 18 directed the committee on estimates to examine the situation and submit its observations, recommendations and directions for their implementation by the government.

Led by Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, the 16-member committee recommended a ban on private practice of doctors in all teaching hospitals, expediting approval of contingency plan of Rs 4 crore in planning and development department and called for strict vigil on the overall administration of the hospital.

Immediate steps should be taken to establish the new state-of-the-art paediatric hospital, with maternity services, a minimum bed capacity of 300 beds vis-a-vis manpower requirements as envisaged by Medical Council of India, the committee said in its report tabled in the Assembly here on Wednesday.

The report called for completing the inquiry within a period of one month against the then medical superintendent Javed Choudhary and action against him as warranted under law for various alleged lapses.

It also sought disciplinary action against faculty members for their negligence in taking due care of patients resulting in the death of patients in units under their command and control.

Recommendations

The committee also recommended setting up of paediatric and neonatal units at all district hospitals to provide round-the-clock intensive care services there besides immediate measures to establish secondary level paediatric hospitals at regional levels.

It also called for adequate manpower and other additional housing infrastructure to the GB Pant Hospital as it is the only tertiary institution of its kind.