Himanta Biswa Sarma to inaugurate the new 40-bed ICU at Silchar Medical College and Hospital

By barakbulletin On September 19, 2020 - 2:33 pm

A 40-bedded ICU has been built at the south block of Silchar Medical College and Hospital. The ventilators were shipped by the PM Cares team, which happens to be a non-public crowdfunded entity created to provide financial aid to combat the pandemic.

A consignment of 40 ventilators at one go is the highest that SMCH has ever received which makes it one of the biggest upgradations of the public hospital since its inception. Principal cum-chief superintendent of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Babul Bezbaruah said, “We are almost ready. The gas pipeline work got completed last night and we will test the ventilators today.”

Minister of Forest and Environment, Excise and Fisheries, Parimal Suklabaidya added, “What did not happen in the last 70 years got done within the span of few months. The Government is committed to improving the health infrastructure and since the outbreak of the pandemic, it has improved leaps and bounds.”

He informed Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is likely to visit on September 22 to inaugurate the newly built ICU.

“After honourable minister inaugurates the ICU we will need two days to senitise the entire unit following which we will make it available for public,” said Dr. Bezbaruah. According to his assessment, the ICU will be ready by Sept

The minister stressed that there is a need for another plasmapheresis machine at the plasma donation bank in Silchar Medical College and Hospital. He said he will discuss the matter with Health Minister.

It is worth mentioning here that the COVID ICU remained stressed for the most part of the pandemic. With only 16 beds in the ICU, the hospital had to keep critical patients at the general ward. The district administration went on to impose a lockdown to control the rise in symptomatic cases and relax the ICU. This upgradation, Dr. Bezbaruah said will help other departments like orthopedics and surgery to function normally. Those departments got dragged into the COVID ward.