Delhi asks State to set up burn units in hospitals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15 2012: The Director General of Health Services, Government of India has written to the Commissioner (Health), Government of Manipur to open burn units in all medical colleges and district hospitals of the State.

The burn units which should be opened within the 12th Five Year Plan period should be equipped with 12 beds each including four beds in ICU.

For construction of buildings and installation of infrastructure for the burn units, the Government of India would sanction Rs two crores in addition to Rs 98 lakhs for procuring necessary equipment.

As per the specifications, one ground-floor building should be constructed on an area of 600 square metres for each burn unit.

Each burn unit should have two surgeons whose monthly salaries would be Rs 55,000; four Senior Resident Doctors or Medical Officers with monthly salaries of 50,000; eight Junior Resident Doctors with monthly salaries of Rs 40,000, 15 staff nurses with monthly salaries of Rs 20,000; six dressers with monthly salaries of Rs 15,000; 12 supporting staff with monthly salaries of Rs 10,000 and two physiotherapists whose monthly salaries would be Rs 25,000 each.

According to the letter received by the Health Commissioner from New Delhi, the Government of India would pay salaries of all the staff working in the burn units for the first five years.

After this period, the State Government should pay the salaries and other requirements.

The letter also sought detailed reports about the number of burn injury cases, cases of deaths due to burn injuries and methods of treating burn injuries registered during 2011-12 .

Responding to the same letter, the Director General of Health Services was asked about the feasibility of opening burn units at RIMS and JNIMS.

The Director General has already replied that a burn unit can be opened at RIMS but did not say anything about JNIMS.

Though the Government of India has assured that it would provide all the requirements including salaries for the first five years, it remains to be seen whether or not the State Government can produce the requisite amount of money for paying salaries and procuring medicines and non-medicine items for patients after the first five years.

It is reported that the matter would be discussed in a Cabinet meeting after preparing a detailed project report.

The private undertaking, Shija Hospitals and Research Institute is reported to have a burn unit.

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