Specialist services at Ashramam ESI hosp halted amid upgrade plans

Resignation of cardiologist, absence of neurologist have disrupted services; elderly patients hit

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Kollam

CARDIOLOGY and neurology services at the ESI Super-Speciality Hospital in Ashramam have been halted following the resignation of the cardiologist and the absence of the neurologist.

The disruption comes at a time when the Union government is planning to upgrade the hospital to a medical college.

The cardiology department had already suspended procedures last year after the private agency managing the cath lab under a public-private partnership model failed to renew its contract.

The cardiologist who was providing services at the time was associated with the cath lab.

With the closure of the lab, the position of the cardiologist remained vacant until a contract-based cardiologist was appointed following public protest.