Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital is preparing for a major expansion of medical education, faster test report delivery and infrastructure upgrade, with two new departments, improved facilities and healthcare reforms expected to be rolled out soon.
AGMC opening two new departments:
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, AGMC Principal Prof. (Dr.) Tapan Majumder said the institution is on the verge of introducing two new departments—Dermatology and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
In addition, the state government has approved three more departments—Emergency Medicine, Hospital Administration and Transfusion Medicine—which will further strengthen the AGMC.
The Principal said AGMC currently has 97 postgraduate seats, while approval has already been received for 83 additional PG seats. On the undergraduate front, the college presently admits 150 MBBS students, and the Centre has sanctioned additional 100 seats. Approval has already been granted by MCI for 50 of those seats, while clearance for the remaining 50 is expected shortly.
Push for faster MRI reports:
Hospital authorities also acknowledged delays in the delivery of MRI reports and said steps are being taken to significantly reduce waiting time.
Medical Superintendent Dr. Bidhan Goswami attributed the delay to a severe shortage of radiologists despite the heavy daily workload handled by the Radiology Department.
According to him, the hospital performs on average around 50 MRI scans, 125 CT scans, 250 X-rays and nearly 100 ultrasonography every day, placing enormous pressure on the existing manpower.
The department presently functions with only one Professor, one Associate Professor, two Assistant Professors and three Senior Residents, with some of them are currently on leave.
Dr. Goswami said, Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who also holds the Health portfolio, has directed officials to resolve the issue at the earliest. The administration is working with technical experts and the IT wing to develop a more efficient reporting system with the objective of providing MRI reports within 24 hours.
Medicine Block to get central AC:
The hospital is also set for a major infrastructure upgrade with the installation of central air-conditioning throughout the Medicine Block.
Responding to concerns over overcrowding and inconvenience faced by patients, Dr. Goswami said the Public Works Department (PWD) has been entrusted with executing the project under the direction of the Chief Minister.
He said portions of the ward are currently under renovation, limiting patient accommodation in some areas due to safety considerations. The ongoing work is expected to be completed within the next three months, after which patient comfort and service delivery are likely to improve substantially.
Central Lab to be shifted for public convenience:
In another significant decision, AGMC has decided to relocate its Central Laboratory to the old labour room building inside the hospital campus to make diagnostic services more accessible for patients and their attendants.
Dr. Majumder said many attendants currently face difficulties reaching the laboratory because of its existing location. Once shifted, the facility will be much easier to access, particularly for critically ill patients and their families.
Although the relocation was delayed due to financial constraints, the required sanction has now been received. The authorities expect the shifting process to be completed within this month.
The combined initiatives are aimed at expanding medical education, strengthening hospital infrastructure, improving patient comfort and ensuring faster diagnostic services as AGMC and GBP Hospital authorities continue their efforts to upgrade healthcare delivery in Tripura.
Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr. Kanak Chowdhury, Deputy MS Dr. Kumarjit Sinha, Resident Medical Officer Dr. Bikas Debbarma and other senior officials were also present during the briefing.