The recently opened gastroenterology department at Ernakulam General Hospital (GH) is facing financial problems.
Ensuring sustainable revenue flow and adequate staff strength are the key challenges facing the department, according to hospital sources.
The department, which operates from the super-specialty block of the hospital, is already seeing a significant response with several trips. However, services are currently limited to internal referrals from physicians and surgeons at GH and the adjacent cancer center.
GH Superintendent Dr. Shahirsha R. says the focus has been on offering cost-effective medical care to the needy. “Most patients come for procedures. The primary goal of the department is to provide the needy with the necessary medical care in an economical way. Although the department is not yet fully functional, the patient load is high, especially since it is served by a single doctor who works on a voluntary basis. We expect more equipment and here we focus on reducing the financial responsibility for patients,” said Dr. Shahirsha.
Dr. T. Paulose George, a retired senior consultant gastroenterologist who oversees operations at the department and offers his services on a voluntary basis, said treatment was given to patients based on clinical priority and efforts were being made to ensure deserving patients received proper care, he said.
“Currently we cannot open to the wider public, but gradually it might be possible. The outpatient operation will start in due course once more gastroenterologists are appointed by the government. These services are expensive, as is the maintenance of the facilities, so we need to ensure a sustainable revenue stream that could help in the functioning of the facilities. We are currently trying to get sponsorship for this,” said Dr. George.
He added that the NGO had agreed to bear a fraction of the running costs of the department.
In the initial phase, diagnostic services are offered in the department.
Services namely colonoscopy and therapeutic endoscopy are likely to be launched soon.
Services are provided Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m
Published – 04 Mar 2026 0:24 IST
