In a significant step towards enhancing healthcare accessibility, the Tripura government is set to collaborate with the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), based in Lucknow. The impending Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will pave the way for the introduction of comprehensive telemedicine services spanning nine specialized medical departments across the state. This initiative aims to leverage the expertise of SGPGIMS to provide crucial medical advice and guidance to healthcare professionals and patients in Tripura.
Providing further details, Tripura Health Secretary Kiran Gitte highlighted the current surgical capacity at GB Pant Hospital, where approximately 3,000 surgeries were successfully performed between January 1st and April 12th. This translates to an impressive average of 40 surgeries conducted daily. While acknowledging a backlog of around 250 pending surgeries, Gitte assured that the hospital possesses a sufficient number of skilled doctors and surgeons to manage the workload effectively.
Looking towards infrastructure development, Gitte mentioned the ongoing work on the Super Specialty building, which commenced last August. To further augment the hospital’s capabilities, a proposal for a CATH Lab, amounting to ₹13 crore, has been sanctioned by the Finance Department following a submission by the Medical Superintendent (MS) of GB Pant Hospital. Additionally, a substantial proposal of ₹56 crore has been forwarded to the Government of India seeking high-end equipment and advanced diagnostic facilities. This strategic investment aims to reduce the number of patient referrals outside the state. Plans are also underway to recruit more super-speciality doctors from outside Tripura and establish a dedicated Stroke Ward to cater to patients affected by cerebrovascular events.
In a move to enhance accountability and efficiency, the Health Secretary announced the implementation of mandatory biometric attendance for all doctors starting from April. Subsequently, the disbursement of salaries will be directly linked to their recorded attendance, reflecting their punctuality and physical presence at their respective healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shankar Chakraborty, the Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital, provided a detailed breakdown of surgical procedures performed in key departments during the initial months of the year. In January, the general surgery department conducted 147 major and 569 minor surgeries. This was followed by 264 major and 421 minor surgeries in February, and 287 major and 435 minor surgeries in March, underscoring the consistent surgical activity within the hospital.
The government-run Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital has achieved a notable milestone, successfully completing over 3,000 surgeries in the past 100 days, a feat made possible with the support of the state government. The hospital prides itself on its team of highly qualified super-speciality doctors covering a comprehensive range of medical disciplines. A recent review meeting convened by hospital authorities facilitated discussions on the diverse spectrum of surgeries being undertaken, the specific departments involved, the challenges encountered in their operations, and the proactive strategic measures being implemented to effectively address these challenges and optimize patient care.