Efforts Underway to Address Parking Shortage and Manage Growing Patient Influx
Jaipur: In a move to tackle the persistent parking shortage at SMS Hospital, the administration has decided to relocate its temporary registration counters to make space for an underground parking facility.
The current registration counters, operating from temporary structures, occupy an area where permanent construction is restricted due to Jaipur Development Authority’s zoning regulations. To optimize available space, hospital authorities have decided to develop parking facilities in the basement area.
Relocation of Hospital Facilities
According to Dr. Sushil Bhati, Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital, the relocation is part of the ongoing construction of the Ayushman IPD tower. “Since the underground parking will be built where the registration counters currently stand, we have to move them before construction begins,” he said.
The hospital plans to shift the registration counters to the ground and first floors of the Ayushman IPD tower once construction is completed. Additionally, several other facilities are being relocated, including the mortuary and the hospital’s police station, to create sufficient parking space.
Other Changes in Hospital Infrastructure
The TB clinic has already been moved to the former radiotherapy center, while radiotherapy services have been shifted to the State Cancer Institute.
Dr. Bhati emphasized that these relocations are part of broader hospital expansion efforts aimed at enhancing patient care. “A lot of shifting is happening to create more space for patients,” he said.
Surge in Patient Numbers Necessitates Expansion
The rising patient influx in 2024 has made these changes even more urgent. SMS Hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD) saw 31.6 lakh patients in 2024, up from 30.4 lakh in 2023. Given the hospital’s existing infrastructure and workforce limitations, administrators are now working on crowd control strategies to better manage the increasing number of patients.
With the Ayushman IPD tower construction in progress and parking issues being addressed, these changes are expected to streamline hospital operations and improve patient services at Rajasthan’s largest medical facility.
