Updated on: Wednesday, March 21, 2012
What is your vision for NIMS?
There is no hospital on par with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in South India and I am trying hard to convert NIMS into an AIIMS type institute. I do not have any past baggage and I am fully committed to this idea. We have enough in-house talented doctors to open a Regional Cancer Institute and an AIIMS like Institute at Bibinagar. I firmly believe in the concept of controlled growth and in due course we will be the first to achieve the AIIMS status for NIMS in the State.
Do you have a roadmap to achieve AIIMS status?
We are coming with a series of new independent institutes in Genetics, Gastroenterology, Cardio-Anaesthesia, Neuro-Anaesthesia, Pulmonology, Accidents and Emergency Studies, more units in Nephrology, super-speciality course in Hand Surgery and Accidental and Emergency medicine etc.
The Regional Cancer Centre will be managed by our doctors. Institutes that will handle musculo-skeletal diseases and cardiology are being planned. We are adding more beds.
There is a need for political support and we hope that we get it from all political parties. There is glimmer of hope because the Government of India is planning to allocate more funds for health sector in the Union Budget.
What is the present situation at Trauma Centre?
First of all, I would like to assure the general public that the Trauma Care Centre at NIMS is equipped to handle any kind of emergencies including fire. We just do not want to rush with the opening of the trauma centre and then expose our patients to unwanted, unknown and unprotected issues. We have even got the nod from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to operate this facility. The emergency department of trauma care already has internal connections to supply medical gases. We need a separate X-ray Department and Operation Theatres and they are getting ready.
When will the Trauma Centre open to public?
We are planning to open the trauma centre for patients in another one month. Gradually, we will add close to 500 beds at the trauma centre. This will increase the total bed strength to nearly 1,450 at NIMS. The trauma centre will now house the old emergency and casualty department. The existing casualty building, which will be empty, will be converted into an exclusive Oncology block. But one must also remember that we also need to take up small and big repairs of the old building. We have got our work cut out in the next few years. We are also recruiting close to 100 new clinical faculty and we are looking for the best of the best in the State.
There are always complaints of lack of ‘humane' touch at NIMS?
Our hospital has been riddled with the issue of limited resources. We have shortage of beds, laboratory services and our doctors are always under pressure. With limited resources, our doctors have to be judicious and that's why we always give priority to patients who can be saved by our doctors. We do not want to be bogged down by recommendations from influential persons. I am confident that in due course, controlled growth will bring results.