New Delhi, July 17 (IANS): Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda paid a surprise visit to the Safdarjung Hospital here on Friday and directed the medical superintendent to upgrade its facilities to ensure that the hospital becomes more patient-friendly.
The minister, who arrived incognito at the premier hospital at 11 a.m., visited several key departments like those dealing with burns and plastic and maxillofacial surgery, as also the blood bank and the waste management wing.
Talking to reporters after the surprise visit, Nadda said his visit was meant "to check basically if all the facilities at the hospital are in place or not".
"As per my instructions, I hope the improvements needed in the facilities will soon be done," the minister added.
Inspecting the cleanliness in the hospital campus and outsourcing of private firms for its maintenance, the minister directed the hospital's medical superintendent Rajpal to use funds properly and efficiently.
Nadda also visited the waste management site, located behind the hospital, and inquired about the process of dumping biomedical and general waste generated from the hospital.
When asked if he was satisfied with the hospital's waste management system, the minister told IANS that "the standards for waste management are being followed and it is ensured that no norms are violated".
According to hospital authorities, the hospital generates 45,000 kg waste daily, including general and bio-medical waste.
While being explained the process of waste management at the hospital, the minister was informed that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) was involved in the hiring of the agencies to dump the waste.
Nadda also held a meeting with senior doctors of the hospital.
Feeling unsatisfied with the arrangements and facilities for treating dengue cases, the union minister directed senior doctors to increase the number of beds for such patients.
"I checked the ward for dengue patients and told them to take proper care of blood purification so that no problem occurs during blood transfusion," Nadda said.
A team of resident doctors also approached the minister, urging him to look into their problems such as lack of proper hostel facilities, manpower and generic medicines for patients.
After being told that the resident doctors were staying in rented accommodations at inflated rents in nearby places, Nadda assured them that he would look into their problems.
The minister also held a meeting with doctors and some NGOs involved in the upkeep of the hospital campus.