Fri Jun 20 12:19:26 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, formatted for a general audience:
**Headline: Alappuzha Medical College Boosts ICU Capacity to Meet Growing Demand**
**Alappuzha, India – June 20, 2025** – The Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Alappuzha has significantly increased its intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, aiming to provide critical care to more patients and reduce the need for transfers to other hospitals.
Ten new beds have been added to the Medicine department’s ICU, part of the Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Unit (MDICU), at a cost of ₹12 lakh. This brings the total number of ICU beds in the MDICU to 37, including those in surgery, step-down, and isolation units.
Additionally, a new Emergency ICU with nine beds has been established in a previously vacant ward. Combined with the existing Trauma ICU, the old building complex now houses 55 ICU beds, separate from those in the Super Speciality Block.
H. Salam, MLA, who advocated for the expansion in a letter to Health Minister Veena George, inaugurated the renovated Medicine ICU on Thursday. He emphasized that the increased capacity will allow the hospital to provide timely and effective emergency care to a greater number of critically ill patients.
“This expansion is crucial for our community,” stated Mr. Salam. “It will ensure that more people in need of urgent medical attention receive the care they deserve, right here in Alappuzha.”
Hospital officials, including Principal B. Padmakumar and Superintendent A. Harikumar, were present at the inauguration, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to improving patient care. The expansion is expected to significantly improve the hospital’s ability to handle critical cases and reduce the burden on other medical facilities in the region.