A proposal to set up an independent Department of Haematology at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH), Kozhikode, is still pending with the Directorate of Medical Education (DME).

At present, the department is functioning as an extension of the General Medicine department. Patients and relatives have been demanding that a separate department and more staff be appointed there considering the high number of people seeking treatment for blood disorders at the MCH.

Kareem Karassery, State president, Kerala Blood Patients Protection Council, said patients suffering from disorders such as thalassemia and haemophilia were higher in Malabar compared with other districts of Kerala. The council had been demanding for around two decades that a specialised treatment centre for haematology be set up at the MCH, he said.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission has directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Health), and the Director, Medical Education (DME), to take a decision on the demand as soon as possible. The Commission also sought a report on the number of additional posts, infrastructure, and funds required for the purpose. The directive issued on July 17 was based on a petition filed by the council alleging that many patients, including those with immunity deficiency disorders and blood disorders, were forced to lay on the floor due to shortage of beds. The council had also claimed that its demand to set up the haematology centre was still pending.

In their reply, the college authorities said that 300 to 400 people seek treatment in the outpatient section of the General Medicine department every day, and that 100 to 130 are getting admitted. There are six units under the department, and each of them can admit only up to 30 patients a day. The authorities also said that those who could not be accommodated in the General Medicine wards are being shifted to other wards sometimes. However, quite often, the rush of patients was beyond their control and even those with serious conditions are forced to be shifted to corridors and other places.

The authorities also sought more space and facilities for the department to address the situation. The report by the Haematology department said it had a capacity of 52 beds, and that patients beyond this limit were not being admitted there. However, considering the rise in the number of patients, the demand to set up a separate department had been sent to the DME, it added.

Published - July 28, 2026 08:58 pm IST