Ex-IAS officer urges govt to upgrade KGH into research hub for NCAP

Visakhapatnam: Former Union secretary EAS Sarma urged state govt to develop King George Hospital/Andhra Medical College complex into a regional research institution, similar to AIIMS. In a letter to chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, he said that it should not only serve as a hospital providing medical services but also as a centre for research on health issues in the region.

Sarma further said that, under Union govt's scheme for multi-purpose research units, state govt should promptly submit a detailed proposal for the development of KGH/AMC as a regional institution for research on health issues in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

"The people of north AP are pleased with your assurance on Saturday to strengthen the KGH in Visakhapatnam and transform it into a system similar to AIIMS, while inaugurating the Andhra Medical College centenary academic block. KGH Hospital is a historic institution that was established 180 years ago. The doctors and staff at this hospital, with a sense of social responsibility and high expertise, provide quality medical care to the poor people coming not only from remote villages of the North Andhra region but also from states like Odisha and Chhattisgarh. However, I have personally witnessed the difficulties faced by patients, their families, and doctors due to the lack of infrastructure and the heavy crowding in the hospital premises, which do not match the level of services being provided. Keeping that in mind, there is a need for the government to strengthen public hospitals like KGH and expand their facilities," said Sarma.