Ernakulam GH’s new Gastroenterology unit faces fund crunch, staff shortage

The recently opened Gastroenterology department at the Ernakulam General Hospital (GH) is facing financial challenges.

Ensuring a sustainable revenue stream and adequate staff strength are the key challenges before the department, according to hospital sources.

The department, which functions from the super-speciality block of the hospital, is already seeing a significant response with several walk-ins. However, the services are at present limited to internal referrals from physicians and surgeons at the GH and the adjacent cancer centre.

GH superintendent Dr. Shahirsha R. says the focus has been on offering cost-effective medical treatment to the needy. “Most patients come for procedures. The primary goal of the department is to ensure that the needy get the required medical care in a cost-efficient manner. Even though the department is yet to be fully operational, the patient load is high, especially since it is being handled by a single doctor who is working on a voluntary basis. We are expecting more equipment, and our focus here has been to reduce the financial liability on patients,” said Dr. Shahirsha.

Dr. T. Paulose George, a retired senior consultant gastroenterologist, who oversees the department’s operations and offers his services on a voluntary basis, said the treatment was given to patients based on clinical priority, and efforts are being taken to ensure that deserving patients get proper care, he said.

“We cannot open up to the larger public at present, but gradually this could be possible. Outpatient service will start in due course, as and when more gastroenterologists are appointed by the government. These services are expensive, and so is the maintenance of equipment, which is why we need to ensure a sustainable revenue stream that could aid in the functioning of the facility. Currently, we are trying to get sponsorship for this,” said Dr. George.

He added that an NGO has agreed to bear a fraction of the running cost of the department.

Diagnostic services are being offered at the department in the initial phase.

Services, namely colonoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy, are likely to be launched shortly.

The services are provided from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.