Podila Prasad-GMCANA Super-specialty and Trauma Centre, being constructed on the premises of the Government General Hospital here, is getting ready for a formal inauguration on January 18.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will open the new facility for the benefit of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The Super-specialty and Trauma Centre is a gift from Guntur Medical College Alumni of North America, members of alumni of Guntur Medical College, ably supported by a magnanimous donation of Rs.5 crore by Venkat Prasad Podila (PVP) of 1981 batch of GMC, a gastroenterologist practising in USA, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
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The facility developed in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode with the State Government has taken six years to be completed and is the first major additional facility to GGH in more than 50 years and according to GMCANA, it will be a ‘tipping point for betterment of GMC.’
An idea born from anguish, despair and need for better and affordable health care, the Super-specialty and Trauma Centre is being designed to provide adequate facilities and help underprivileged people in coastal districts.
“My dream is to bring back the past glory to GGH and GMC and to provide adequate facilities that will attract qualified faculty,” said Dr. Prasad in a letter addressed to the GMCANA.
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The idea sprang up in 2006 when the executive committee of GMCANA was asked by the then district Collector G. Jayalakshmi to review plans for construction of a Millennium Block. Dr. Prasad expressed his interest to donate funds to improve clinical services and educational programmes. During the diamond jubilee celebrations of GMC held in 2007, Chairman of Board of Trustees Nageswara Rao Latchamsetty met the then Health Minister K. Rosaiah and submitted the plan to develop the GGH.
In July 2007, an MoU was signed for construction of the new facility and the foundation stone was laid on December 3.
It looks a class apart with the front elevation built with Greyish Markapur stone, similar to the stone used in construction of GMCANA auditorium.
The new building is centred around a trauma centre with supportive services including, an emergency care centre, imaging centre, laboratory services and operation theatres. Super-specialty units -- cardiology, cathlab, cardio-thoracic surgery, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology, and plastic surgery are being established.