CM, health officials discuss state-centre hosp bed tie-up

Kolkata: CM Suvendu Adhikari held his first meeting — after assuming office — with health officials at IPGMER & SSKM Hospital on Friday to discuss improving healthcare services in the state. Sources said the meeting held at IPGMER & SSKM Hospital was a brainstorming session on how to improve patient care services across Bengal.Sources said ways of achieving zero patient refusal in govt hospitals, zero tolerance on touts, a control room in Swasthya Bhawan that will monitor bed vacancy of all govt hospitals in real time, an app-based ambulance service system to eliminate tout interference, and others were discussed. Proposals like seamless patient reference from state hospitals to central govt-run hospitals, like ESI, in case of bed crunch in the former, as well as the feasibility of such reference to private hospitals or private medical colleges were also brought up. Many of these private facilities have agreements with the govt to provide between 10% to 15% free beds. Health officials are likely to trace such agreements so they can be implemented in letter and spirit. "We have been drawing up a blueprint on improving healthcare services across govt and private hospitals. Some of these pointers were discussed. The talks will continue," said oncologist Sharadwat Mukerjee, BJP MLA from Bidhannagar.Other issues included better security for doctors, healthcare workers and students on premises of hospitals or health institutes, laminated ID cards for healthcare workers, and colour-coded bands for patients and relatives to rule out presence of unauthorised persons at hospitals. "It was a fruitful discussion and we expect it to be followed by a series of meetings to plan and work on the proposals. There are eight doctor MLAs in this govt and we can expect more focus on healthcare," said oncologist Indranil Khan, BJP MLA from Behala West.Both Mukherjee and Khan arrived at IPGMER & SSKM with Adhikari on Friday evening. Principal health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam, other health secretaries and key officials, including the DME and DHS, attended the meeting, too. Medical colleges were represented by administrators, including principals and MSVPs. Sources said officials from Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute also participated. "The CM also told health officials to escalate all developmental projects, like the Cancer Care Hub at SSKM," said an official.Sources said the next meeting between govt representatives and health officials will be held at Swasthya Bhawan on Monday.