Madam Speaker, as a newly appointed minister, I am visiting all hospitals to enquire on the state of affairs thereof. Accordingly, I carried out a site visit at Flacq Hospital on Wednesday, 11 December 2024. Many shortcomings were identified in terms of public safety, management of patients flow within the hospital, infrastructural issues and logistics as follows – 1) No provision has been made for a pedestrian crossing in front of the hospital; 2) Parking slots provided for patients were inexistent; 3) Taxi slots were provided some 800 metres away from the entrance of the hospital; 4) Visitors from different parts of the district are in general encountering difficulties in obtaining public transport to access the hospital; 5) There was a lack of signage inside the hospital to direct outpatients and visitors; 6) The pharmacy department is located far from the outpatient departments, and no proper provision has been made for endoscopy and ophthalmology services; 7) The cardiology services were operational, but interventional cardiology services comprising angiography and angioplasty are yet to be established; 8) There is also a delay in delivery of critical equipment such as city scan and X- ray machines for the radiology department; 9) MRI equipment have been received but not yet installed; 10) The existing electrical generators have short autonomy duration and needs refueling every six hours; 11) Lack of bathroom facilities and mess rooms for staff; 12) No provision has been made for a canteen tuck shop in the vicinity of the hospital;

46 13) The triage section has to be relocated with sufficient attendants, wheelchairs and patient trolleys for timely convenience of patients who cannot walk; 14) Limited number of power points, telephone sockets, wash hand machine, sinks at different wards and units; 15) Lack of partitioning at the physiotherapy department and several other departments; 16) The occupational therapy and physiotherapy units are to be relocated; 17) The laboratory stalls and dental services have not been fully relocated to the new hospital, and 18) No leachate treatment plant for disposal of treated wastewater. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce that immediate action has already been taken to address the issues faced by the public and taxi operators. To this end, 50 parking slots are being made available to patients and visitors at the entrance of the hospital. Moreover, three taxi slots have been allocated nearer to the main entrance of the hospital. I am also informed that five parking slots have been reserved for ambulances in front of the accident and emergency unit at the entrance of the hospital for drop-off and pick- up patients, including dialysis patients. Madam Speaker, as regards the inhaled nitric oxide apparatus which is currently lying idle at the hospital, I am informed there is a nitrogen cylinder that had been procured two weeks ago, and a breathing circuit is awaited. Training will be conducted in January 2025 by a team from the US, and thereafter, the equipment will be used for children suffering from persistent pulmonary hypertension. Madam Speaker, a technical committee has been set up to look into the remedial actions that have to be taken in the short to medium term with a view to improving the health services at the hospital. This technical committee will meet on a weekly basis and will report progress to me accordingly. I am pleased to announce that the services of one eminent vascular surgeon from Chennai have been secured to assist our team in complex cases of arteriovenous fistula, that is, those who need dialysis. Moreover, as from next year, an eye and a vascular surgery

47 department as well as a renal transplant unit will be operational at Flacq hospital. Two teams have already been set up for that purpose.

Thank you. Is that a supplementary or your next question?

Supplementary.

Okay, that will probably be the last!

Will the hon. Minister please inform the House whether prior to his visit, a huge stock of new equipment was left unused, owing to the coup riban ceremony culture of the previous minister which ultimately never happened?

Madam Speaker, there were certain equipment which have not been utilised, and that is why they have mentioned that – let us say within the next few months, all these equipment will be operational but there is no need for any coup riban business in the ministry.

Okay. Yes!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I humbly suggest the hon. Minister to even consider, among the 14 measures that he will be implementing, maybe we could suggest to move the medical superintendent office and administrative cadres that have contact with the public to lower floors for ease of services? Thank you.

I will look into it.

Yes, hon. Dr. Aumeer! Last question.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. May I ask the hon. Minister, having paid a visit to the hospital only last week, whether there could be an improved signage system within the hospital which will help both patients and visitors because going there with huge corridors and so many wards and departments, you can get lost very easily? Thank you.

I have mentioned in my statement that we will be having signage.

Thank you very much. I think we can break for one and a half hours. We will be back at 2.30 p.m. At 1.00 p.m., the Sitting was suspended.

48 On resuming at 2.31 p.m. with Madam Speaker in the Chair.

Please be seated! Hon. Second Member for Flacq & Bon Accueil! DRAIN PROJECTS – COSTS BREAKDOWN