No generator system, taluk hospital in Idukki 'critical'

Idukki: The functioning of Nedumkandam taluk hospital has been hit for over two seeks now since the generator system was gutted. Cases that need immediate medical assistance, including caesarean section, are getting delayed.

At present, hospital authorities depend on outside assistance to ensure power supply during major surgeries.

Last week, KSEB officials deployed three of their staff at the hospital power supply feeder area to ensure power supply at the time of an emergency surgery.

The taluk hospital is functioning under the Nedumkandam block panchayat and people alleged that the panchayat officials failed to arrange a new generator to the hospital.

Nedumkandam block panchayat president Reji Panachikkan said: “The block panchayat has called a hospital development committee meeting on Friday to discuss the issue. As per government rule, the generator repair should be overseen by a government-approved agency.”

“We have already directed the hospital authorities to rent a generator to manage the present situation. Due to the model code of conduct, we can’t buy a new generator for the hospital,” said Panachikkan.

“We will buy a new generator after the withdrawal of the model code of conduct,” said the president.

Recently, the government has decided to upgrade the hospital as district hospital. However, hospital authorities informed the government that it would be difficult to manage the surgeries and other treatments without a proper generator system. “Frequent summer rains in the evenings have been disrupting power supply in the area,” the authorities said.