During her visit Tirath emphasised the importance of KSH as a specialised institution for the most underprivileged and vulnerable children and said that not much change had taken place in terms of the facilities available since 2005, when she last visited the hospital.
A statement released by her ministry said that Tirath noted that the hospital suffered from shortages of space and understaffing including shortage of paramedical staff.
There was also a need for a cadre of social workers to assist and counsel families of admitted children to promote child health and nutrition. No facilities exist for accompanying family members of admitted infants and children such as 'dharamshalas' which are normally present in the vicinity of most other hospitals, the statement said.
Tirath said that plans for upgradation of the hospital had been floated since 1999 but these had not fructified.
The Hospital Administration informed her that a proposal to add two floors to the existing building was being explored. Officials said that 200 additional beds will become available after Phase-I of the upgradation of the hospital.
The administration also said that some land very close to the hospital was due to KSH from the DMRC in lieu of land that was acquired from the hospital for construction of the Metro.
In its statement, the WCD ministry said that Tirath would be personally be taking up the issues related to the development of facilities at the hospital with the Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and impress upon inter-departmental coordination to ensure fructification.
Tirath also declared the constitution of a High Powered Committee comprising members from National council for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), doctors and others.
