Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 19: Health minister U T Khader on Saturday March 19 announced several new health centres and hospitals planned for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts by the state health department.

Significantly, he also said that the work on the mother and child wing in Lady Goschen Hospital has been stopped due to 'structural' issues and lack of coordination between MRPL, MCC and the health department, and that new tender would be called.

Addressing a press meet at Wenlock hospital here, Khader said, "Under Karnataka Health Sytem Development and Reform Project, a total of 19 works were sanctioned in Udupi and DK districts, out of which six are completed and the remaining are in progress."

Giving details he said, "In Dakshina Kannada, 8 works worth Rs 3,702.50 lac were sanctoned, out of which two works of Rs 680 lac have been completed and the rest are in progress.

"These include 100-bed hospitals in Bantwal, Beltangady and Sullia under state grant. Among them, the hospital in Beltangady has been completed and handed over, while on Bantwal hospital, 80 percent of the work is complete and it will be ready in June. Even the hospital in Sullia is in its final stage. Also, work worth Rs 120 lac on primary health centre at Palthady, Puttur has been completed.

"Under National Health Urban Mission (NHUM), a 30-bed community health centre will be established at a cost of Rs 500 lac," he added.

Regarding 60-bedded mother and child wing at Lady Goschen Hospital he said, "Out of the estimated Rs 1,046 lac, work worth Rs 114 lac has already been spent. However, the work has been stopped now and new tender will be called.

Asked to explain, he said, "There are structural faults. The administrative block has been constructed on the first floor which is not correct. It will be shifted outside the hospital building. There is problem with pipeline and also there are no proper furniture, facility for ICU and lifts. MRPL and MCC did not consult the health department while executing the work. There was no coordination."

"Lady Goschen and Wenlock hospitals are in National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare (NABH) list and hence they will get grants. A 272-bed facility (including 60-bedded mother and child wing) is coming up in Lady Goschen hospital, and soon engineers and architects will hold a discussion to chalkout a plan," he said.

Khader also said that neurology and urology centres worth Rs 15 crore will be set up in Wenlock hospital. Out of this amount, the state government has already sanctioned Rs 5 crore and the remaining Rs 10 crore will be sanctioned in the next action plan, he added.

"Wenlock hospital will be renovated at a cost of Rs 22 crore and already the department has written to the National Health Mission on this. Hopefully, by April it would be sanctioned," he informed.

He further said that new hospitals would come up in Dakshina Kannada at a total approved amount of Rs 3,702.50 lac, while the expenditure would be Rs 1,455.65 lacs. Among these are the ones in Beltangady, Sullia and Bantwal mentioned above. Also, community health centers would come up in Uppinnagady, Kadaba and Kokkada, primary health centres in Ambalamogeru, Manchi, Kurnadu, Charmadi, and antenatal care centres at Maddanur, Bajpe, Kaniyur (Beltangady), Mundaje and Boliyar.

Regarding new works in Udupi district, he said 4 are completed while 11 are in progress. Altogether, the cost of these projects is Rs 2,020 lac out of which four projects worth 386.76 lac are completed. These include women's health centre in Udupi city, community health centres in Hebri and Gangolli, primary health centres in Belve, Mudrangady, Karje, Belman, Kirimanjeshwara, Haklady, Hallihole, and AYUSH hospital in Udupi. Among them, work on hospitals at Gangolli, Karje, Haklady and Belve have been completed.

He also said that 8 new projects worth Rs 1,375 lac are yet to be cleared by the National Health Mission. These include construction of taluk hospital in Karkala, primary health centres in Kaup and Saiberkatte, and antenatal care centres in Koni, Kukkundoor, Kirady and Pithrody.

Asked whether Wenlock hospital would be taken on lease by KMC as reported in a section of the media, he said there was no such proposal.