New NIMS Director rolls out major patient first reforms

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Launching an ambitious overhaul of the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), newly appointed Director Dr Rahul Devaraj on Friday announced a zero tolerance policy towards corruption, negligence and ill treatment of patients, while outlining a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at improving patient care and hospital administration.

Addressing his first media interaction after assuming office, Dr Devaraj said Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had entrusted him with the responsibility of cleansing the system, strengthening governance and restoring NIMS as a premier public healthcare institution. He said the Chief Minister had made it clear that no individual, regardless of position or influence, would be spared if found guilty of corruption or negligence, provided there was evidence.

Making patient welfare the top priority, the Director declared that no patient arriving at the Emergency Department for admission would be turned away due to shortage of beds. Daily monitoring has been introduced to ensure every emergency patient receives a bed and timely treatment.

Under the Swacch NIMS initiative, nearly 100 tonnes of accumulated garbage have been cleared from the hospital campus during the past month. Measures are also underway to reduce waiting periods for MRI, CT and ultrasound scans. The current MRI waiting time, which extends beyond ten days in some cases, is being brought down to just 48 hours.

To improve patient convenience, NIMS has doubled the number of OP registration, billing and blood sample collection counters, advanced billing operations, and streamlined the discharge process to ensure patients leave the hospital earlier.

The Director also announced a volunteer support system to guide patients across the hospital, modernization of the decades old laundry facility, and steps to restore cashless private insurance services while ensuring uninterrupted Aarogyasri treatment.