The new five-storey block of Government Lady Goschen Hospital here is likely to be inaugurated within a week, said Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai.
Speaking at a function to lay the foundation stone for buildings coming up on the hospital premises here on Saturday, he said officials are waiting for a date from Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the event.
The new block has been constructed using ₹21 crore funds given by ONGC-MRPL under its corporate social responsibility. The State government has given ₹10 crore.
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According to sources, the new block is likely to be inaugurated either on March 15 or 16.
The construction of the new block of this government maternity hospital was taken up in 2011 after bringing down half portion of the old building. Following a review of the Health Department’s works in December 2016, Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar said the new block will be functional by March 23, 2017. In the last week of July 2017, Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo, who heads the Arogya Raksha Samiti of Wenlock and Lady Goschen hospitals, said the new block will be functional from November 1, 2017.
An official overseeing the construction work said except for some minor works on the fifth floor, the new block is ready. Oxygen connection to operation theatres and specialised units have been given and tested. Clearance from the Electrical Inspectorate has been obtained. Application has been submitted online for clearance from the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services.
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The official said arrangements are being made to shift the X-ray unit from the old block to the ground floor in the new block.