Lucknow: Patients and their families at Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) will soon experience significant relief in terms of cost, time and access to treatment following major policy decisions taken in the institute’s 41st Governing Body meeting on Tuesday.
One of the most impactful decisions concerns families of brain-dead patients who consent to organ donation. In such cases, the hospital will bear the cost of the patient’s hospitalisation, reducing a major financial burden on grieving families.
Another decision set to directly benefit patients is the immediate availability of commonly used medicines and consumables within hospital wards. At present, there are delays in starting treatment as patients’ attendants must rush to the pharmacy to procure these items. To end this problem, the institute will now stock over 250 medicines and consumables in each ward. Patients will only pay a nominal HRF (Hospital Resource Fund) fee, which will cover the cost of these items, ensuring that treatment begins without delay.
Eye patients will also benefit, as the hospital has abolished the extra Rs 50 charge for routine OPD procedures like fundus examination and glaucoma testing. These will now be included in the standard OPD registration fee, saving patients both money and time.
For the future availability of doctors and better patient care, the Governing Body approved sending a proposal to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to increase 86 postgraduate seats (MD, MS, DM, MCh) in various departments including anesthesia. This expansion is expected to improve specialised services and reduce patient load.
The Governing Body also approved two years of study leave for nurses pursuing higher education, which will help strengthen clinical services in the long run.
On the infrastructure front, the institute informed the board that out of the Rs 250 crore approved by the state govt for advanced medical facilities in 2024-25, purchase orders worth Rs 232 crore for equipment have already been issued. This will bring cutting-edge technology to the hospital, enhancing patient care.
In terms of manpower, the institute shared that 165 new faculty members have been recruited in a recent drive, which will improve teaching, training and healthcare delivery.
The meeting was chaired by chief secretary and institute chairman S P Goyal and attended by Amit Kumar Ghosh, principal secretary medical education and vice president of the institute, DGME Aparna U, ABVMU vice-chancellor Prof Sanjeev Mishra, former VC Dr P K Singh, DG medical health Ratan Pal Singh Suman, institute director Prof C M Singh, representative of ACS finance Sameer Verma, along with other officials and members.
