First multi-disciplinary research unit in MMC& RI

The unit has been set up at K R Hospital at the cost of Rs 5 crore

In a bid to improve the existing health facilities, a multi-disciplinary research unit will start functioning at K R Hospital in the city, followed by the provision of additional ventilators, operation theatres, modernised ambulances, among others, to cater to the growing number of patients.

Addressing the media here on Tuesday, Director and Dean of MMC and RI Dr B Krishnamurthy, under which K R Hospital, Cheluvamba Hospital and PKTB Sanatorium are functioning, announced that the research unit has been set up at the K R Hospital, under the Central sponsored scheme at an estimated cost of Rs five crore. The Union Health Ministry has sanctioned the unit for all the medical colleges in the country. However, MMC and RI has accomplished the task on war footing by becoming the first institute in the country to set up the facility, Krishnamurthy claimed.

He said that as per the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry, five personnel, including two each research officers and lab assistants have been recruited to the facility, besides the installation of  the equipment at an estimated cost of Rs 1.25 crore. Rs 34 lakh has been earmarked for the research activities alone, he added.

The unit will focus on new age diseases like diabetes, hyper tension, stress, cholesterol among others. A total of four projects covering the departments of bio-chemistry, psychiatry and paediatric will be taken up in the initial stage. Three among them have been approved, including one each of the afore mentioned departments.

Krishnamurthy said that for the first five years, the unit will be under the Central government. Later, MMC and RI will have to take care of the facility on its own.

Additional ventilators
That apart, the MMC and RI having constituent hospitals like K R Hospital, Cheluvamba and PKTB Sanatorium on KRS road, has added six more ventilators taking the total to 23 ventilators.
The new ventilators were purchased with Rs 75 lakh donated by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) during the current fiscal. Another six ventilators are expected to be purchased soon taking the total to 29.
Operation theatres
A state-of-the-art super speciality operation theatre has been built in the OT block of K R Hospital. It has been built using stainless steel. In all, the hospital has eight OTs handling 100 cases per day. The OT in the ground floor will soon be renovated, said Krishnamurthy.
Inter-com
For better communication among its staff, especially spread in different corners of the hospital complex spread over 16 acres, inter-com facility has been installed in K R Hospital and Cheluvamba Hospitals. A total of 70 intercom have been installed at K R Hospital and 30 at Cheluvamba.
Ambulance
That apart, modernised ambulance will be added to the existing fleet of one ambulance at the Hospital. It will be an air-conditioned vehicle, with modifications to carry ventilator and other necessary equipment.