Orthopaedics, paediatrics, medicine and gynaecology departments at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College (MCH) will go referral from New Year Day.
This is part of the State Government efforts to make medical colleges in the State referral centres, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar told newspersons here.
REFERRAL SYSTEM
Those referred from primary health centres, community health centres, taluk and district hospitals would get expert treatment at the medical college.
Thus, cases referred in this manner from these hospitals in the lower rung alone would be entertained at the medical college.
The lower rung hospitals have in turn been promised improved facilities and staff to function round-the-clock.
The rest of the departments at the MCH here would be given referral status in a phased manner, the minister said.
BACK REFERRAL
The Government also proposed to introduce the back-referral system in which MCH would refer cases needing further care back to originating hospital or health centre.
Meanwhile, a poly trauma morgue geriatric complex would be constructed at the MCH, Sivakumar said.
The Rs 21.6 crore-project would be launched in January and completed within 18 months. A geriatric care training centre also would be set up here.
Other projects proposed include a Rs 8-crore multidisciplinary research laboratory; digitalised X-ray; central liquid oxygen plant; a power laundry; and a central kitchen.
The Thycaud Women’s and Children Hospital has become the first in the State to be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare.