JP Nadda Reviews LHMC and Associated Hospital Upgrades
Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviews progress at Lady Hardinge Medical College to boost bed capacity and medical training facilities.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda has conducted a comprehensive review of the progress at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) and its affiliated healthcare institutions. The review focused on the strategic strengthening of healthcare infrastructure, specialized clinical services, medical education, and advanced research capabilities.
Major Capacity Boost for Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital
A significant highlight of the review was the ongoing expansion of the Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital (KSCH). The ongoing augmentation project aims to drastically increase the facility's capacity to meet growing pediatric needs:
- Bed Capacity: Increasing from 394 to 894 beds.
- ICU Capacity: Expanding from 40 to 200 beds.
- Operation Theatres: Increasing from 4 to 12 theatres.
The construction at the KSCH campus is designed to bolster tertiary and super-speciality pediatric care while simultaneously expanding training opportunities for undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-speciality medical students.
Focus on Patient-Centric Planning and Recruitment
Addressing the review meeting, Minister Nadda emphasized that all current and future projects at LHMC and its associated hospitals must adopt a patient-centric and future-oriented approach. He stressed that planning and design should incorporate best practices from leading global institutions to ensure high-quality construction and strict adherence to project timelines.
The Minister highlighted several key directives for the institutions:
- Concurrent Growth: Infrastructure expansion must move in tandem with the recruitment of doctors, nurses, and other essential healthcare professionals.
- Long-term Vision: The development of a comprehensive master plan that combines immediate priorities with a phased, long-term institutional vision.
- Expertise Integration: Exploring private-sector partnerships and expertise to ensure efficiency and quality in major project implementation.
Advanced Medical Training and Neonatal Care
During his visit, the Minister inspected the state-of-the-art Skill Lab at Lady Hardinge Medical College. This multidisciplinary, simulation-based facility provides hands-on training in a controlled environment. The lab features dedicated simulation areas for various critical sectors, including:
- ICU and Surgical Skills
- Simulated Operation Theatres (OT) and Obstetrics OT
- NICU, Trauma, ENT, and Ophthalmology
This facility is designed to enhance clinical proficiency, decision-making, and teamwork through structured feedback and deliberate practice, ultimately contributing to higher patient safety.
The Minister also toured the recently functional Augmented Level III-B Neonatal Care Centre at Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital. The Department of Neonatology currently manages over 10,000 deliveries and 2,500 NICU admissions annually, maintaining a survival rate exceeding 93 per cent. The facility offers advanced life-support services, including high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and therapeutic hypothermia. The new NICU-B expansion includes specialized beds for intensive care, high-dependency care, and Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) to support family-integrated neonatal care.