After the start of specialist services at Mahakali Provincial Hospital, the patient load has increased. The flow of patients has risen after the hospital began providing specialist services along with CT-scan and other equipment-based services. Known as a referral center, Mahakali Hospital has recently started providing services with 23 specialist doctors.
According to Acting Medical Superintendent Arjun Bhatt, the patient flow has increased after the operation of the Medicine Department, Orthopedics Department, Surgery Department, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Radiology, Anesthesiology, and Psychiatry specialist services. The hospital had started CT-scan services only a month ago. He stated that with the increase in patients seeking treatment after this, a shortage of beds has begun.
“After starting CT-scan services, the early detection of cancer, diagnosis of most injury cases, nerve compression in the brain, and hematoma cases is being carried out,” said MS Dr. Bhatt. “As such cases have increased, there is now a shortage of beds in the hospital, and the rate of patient admission has risen.” Dr. Bhatt said that due to the rise in admissions, there is an immediate need to add more beds. According to him, efforts are being made at the Sudurpaschim Province Ministry of Social Development for this.
“From November, we are starting services for OPD and the emergency unit with a separate modern X-ray machine,” he said. “We are working in line with our commitment to deliver quality health services.”
After the hospital began providing specialist services, patients here have no longer been forced to go elsewhere for treatment. Compared to the past, advanced medical equipment and specialist services at the hospital have made diagnosis and treatment easier for patients. Radiologist Santosh Atreya informed that after the start of CT-scan services, the hospital has been able to diagnose diseases and provide treatment more easily.
“When we had only X-ray services at the hospital, we had to refer patients elsewhere,” he said. “After starting CT-scan services, we have been able to treat many patients coming here within a short time, cancer is now being detected right here in Mahendranagar.” He said that after detecting early-stage cancer in many patients, they are referred for further treatment with proper counseling.
Outgoing chairperson of the Hospital Management Committee, Krishnananda Bhatt, said that compared to the past, specialist services have been gradually added at the hospital. “Compared to previous years, the number of patients receiving services from here has increased,” he said. “The main requirement here was CT-scan, and after starting that service, patients have received relief.”
He added that as specialist doctor services increase, if the government also expands physical infrastructure and medical equipment accordingly, no patient will have to travel elsewhere for treatment.
According to the hospital administration, in fiscal year 2013/14, 91,500 patients received services from the OPD. Similarly, 39,914 patients received services from the emergency unit, and 5,000 patients were admitted to the hospital. After the start of specialist services, in fiscal year 2024/25, 109,000 patients received services from the OPD, 51,300 from the emergency unit, and 6,356 were admitted.
Established in 1963 AD as a Primary Health Center, the hospital was upgraded to a 25-bed District Hospital in 1975 AD. With further upgrades, it became a 50-bed Zonal Hospital (referral center) in 1986 BS. After federalization, it was upgraded to a Provincial Hospital, and only then did it begin providing specialist services.
As per the approved permanent posts, the hospital has positions for four 11th-level specialist doctors and sixteen 9th- and 10th-level specialist doctors. Currently, the hospital has four Medicine specialists, three Orthopedic specialists, three Gynecology specialists, two Pediatricians, two ENT specialists, two Anesthesiologists, three Surgery specialists, two Radiologists, and one Psychiatrist.