Hyderabad: In a first for a govt hospital in Telangana, a new automated tube system for the quick transport of medical samples, especially during emergency cases, will be installed at the upcoming 1,000-bed Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS) in Sanathnagar, which will be inaugurated on Ugadi (March 19).Widely used in private hospitals, a pneumatic tube system is a network of sealed pipes that uses air pressure to move small containers quickly between locations. Officials said the facility will significantly speed up internal sample movement and cut waiting time for patients and doctors.Under the new system, nurses or emergency staff will be able to place blood or other samples at designated stations, from where they will travel through pipelines directly to the laboratory. Lab technicians will receive the samples almost instantly, conduct the required tests, and send reports digitally.Officials said the system is especially crucial in time-sensitive cases such as head injuries and cardiac arrest, where immediate lab investigations are required. Currently, staff must physically carry samples to labs, which can lead to delays. “In time-critical cases, such as head injuries, cardiac emergencies or urgent blood transfusions in operation theatres, the system will enable rapid transport of samples for immediate testing, helping doctors take faster clinical decisions,” Dr Mahaboob Khan, nodal officer at TIMS.TIMS Sanathnagar will house a dedicated centre for testing food and water samples amid a rise in food poisoning incidents. The facility, expected to operate from one or two rooms, will support forensic laboratories, govt hospitals and research scholars,” said doctors from the social and preventive medicine (SPM) department, which is likely to be part of the unit.“The hospital is adopting new design features, including pneumatic tube systems and dedicated dirty corridors to prevent cross-contamination, to bring public healthcare infrastructure closer to corporate hospital standards,” said Dr Narendra A, director of medical education (DME).Meanwhile, health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha recently reviewed the project and directed officials to complete pending civil works and equipment trials by the second week of March. As many as 16 operation theatres are ready for surgeries, while installation of CT scan, MRI and digital X-ray machines is complete. A total of 450 staff, including doctors and nurses, will be deployed at the hospital.At present, 60 personnel have been immediately deputed from various medical colleges and government hospitals to support initial operations. A five-day trial run is scheduled from March 10 to March 15 to prepare wards, operation theatres and logistics ahead of the launch.
