Noida/Ghaziabad: While all districts are gearing up for the possible third wave with increased focus on pediatric care, availability of manpower and specialised resources for children remains a problem in Noida and Ghaziabad. There are just four pediatric care intensivists in Noida — Fortis, Sharada, Jaypee and Kailash hospitals — to handle serious cases among children. Just about eight neonatologists are there in the district at these four hospitals along with child PGI, Felix and Yathartha. Additionally, there are about 150 paediatricians in the district.

Officials say that these are specialised positions that cannot be filled at short notice and there is no option but to strengthen the existing infrastructure and increase training of existing staff. Pediatric intensivists are specialist doctors who handle critical care cases for children of 1-18 years. Neonatologists are doctors who handle critical care of newborns from birth to one month. “Unlike the intensive care specialists for adults, the work for pediatric intensivists is more strenuous. While many procedures are standardised for all adults, the needs for a 2-year-old and a 15-year-old are very different.

Very often we have to step in even to put a cannula because the nerves of small children are very fine and even experienced doctors cannot do it. We discussed the issue with the administration and a task force has been formed to increase capacity,” said Dr Ashutosh Sinha, additional director of paediatrics, Fortis Hospital.
He added that there are also more staff needed for manning paediatric wards as compared to those for adults as smaller children are dependent on others for many needs.

According to Dr Amit Vij, intensivist at Sharada hospital, “Specialised doctors for children are needed for optimising treatment and best utilisation of resources. In many cases we are now hearing about treatments being double-edged swords. The use of some medication is leading to other health issues. With children we just cannot treat in a way that causes any other major health concern.” There is a severe crunch of paediatricians in government hospitals in Ghaziabad too. Officials say they are pursuing the matter with senior authorities for deputation of additional medicos in Ghaziabad. Sources said there are seven paediatricians in DWH and two in DCH and this is not enough to run the two PICUs.

“There is a plan to increase the number of beds in DWH to 30 as per the requirement, so the number of doctors is not sufficient at all. At DWH, some of these doctors will also be required to attend to other children. We are assessing the present strength and seek the appointment of paediatricians from other districts,” said a health official. Meanwhile, Ghaziabad administration has initiated the process to start a dedicated 60-bed child hospital in Ram Saran Garg Indo-German Hospital located on NH-9 near Dasna.

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