No consensus yet on site for new dist. hospital

The Department of Health and Family Welfare in Mysuru is yet to finalise the location for constructing the proposed 300-bed district hospital for which the State Cabinet gave its nod and cleared an allocation of Rs. 70 crore towards its construction.

The proposed district hospital is expected to ease patient load on the State-run K.R. Hospital, which is functioning as the teaching hospital of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) as well as the district hospital in the absence of a district hospital.

The district hospital for offering secondary care was the long-pending demand of the elected representatives and the people in the district as the number of people seeking public healthcare services had gone up substantially with healthcare in private hospitals turning expensive.

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had cleared the hospital project with an initial allocation of Rs. 70 crore.

The government has proposed to construct the hospital in an area spanning over 10-15 acres.

Two spots identified

However, consensus is yet to be arrived on the site for establishing the hospital though the department has identified two places — Seth Mohandas Tulsidas Maternity Hospital on J.L.B. Road in Lakshmipuram and Epidemic Diseases Hospital premises on K.R.S. Road.

Sources told The Hindu that some elected representatives want the hospital to be located within the city limits while a few others want it to be constructed without compromising on the space keeping in view the demand for parking.

The Health Department is now in a fix on whether to give importance for convenience or space.

There is not much space on the premises of Tulsidas Hospital.

However, space around Epidemic Diseases Hospital, where other health projects are also coming up, including Sri Jayadeva Institute for Cardiovascular Sciences and Trauma Care Centre, was abundant.

There are plans to develop the PKTB and Epidemic Diseases Hospital premises into a health city bringing up more public healthcare services.

Recently, Mysuru Dustrict in-charge Minister H.C. Mahadevappa inspected both the sites and kept his decision on hold. The decision had been left to the Minister who is now weighing all options before zeroing in on the site for the proposed hospital.