Kozhikode Government Beach hospital to get stroke unit

Kozhikode: Kozhikode Government Beach Hospital is all set to get a special stroke unit. It follows the decision taken by the state health department to set up stroke units in all district hospitals across the state.

The unit will be set up with an aid of Rs 20 lakh allotted by the National Health Mission. The hospital will also get an advanced CT scan facility to carry out scanning which will help provide treatment to stroke patients within four hours. The installation of the CT scanner at a cost of more than Rs 1 crore is progressing at the hospital.

The commissioning of the stroke unit will be a great help for the people in the district as they do not need to approach Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital to get the treatment. The stroke unit at the medical college caters to the requirements of patients in the five Malabar districts. The stroke unit coming up at Government Beach hospital will also get a stroke ICU to admit four patients at a time. At present, the beach hospital has ensured the service of a neurologist to treat stroke cases.

According to the beach hospital authorities, on an average five to six stroke cases are being reported daily at the hospital.

Dr K M Sachin Babu, deputy superintendent of the beach hospital said that the government has issued an order to set up the stroke unit. “The unit will be a reality in three to four months,” he said.

Dr Mohammed Rijosh, neurologist of the Kozhikode government beach hospital said that setting up of the stroke unit will reduce the volume of patients at the medical college hospital. “At present, patients arriving at beach hospital during ‘golden hours’ are referred to Kozhikode Government Medical College as the CT scanner installation is not over. Receiving treatment during the period is very important for patients who have suffered a stroke. Patients need not be referred to Medical college hospital once the beach hospital gets CT scanner,” he said.