A new building with 110 beds at Saidapet GH

Adding more health infrastructure for Chennai, the Health department has constructed a new building with a bed strength of 110 at the Government Hospital, Saidapet, which is over a century old.

Stating that the building will be brought to use shortly, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, said the GH was nearly 120 years old, and the new six-storey building has come up at a total cost of Rs. 28.70 crore.

Residents of not only Saidapet but also Madipakkam, Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam, Pallikaranai, Jalladianpettai, Sholinganallur and Akkarai have been seeking medical care at the Saidapet GH, he told reporters after an inspection on Monday. The new facility spanning 68,290 square feet area has paved the way for major improvements for the Saidapet GH, he said.

While the ground floor will have the vehicle parking spaces, the outpatient units, immunisation unit, pharmacy and scan rooms will be on the first floor. The second floor will comprise the labour wards, pre and post natal wards, emergency wards and nurses stations. On the third floor, an integrated laboratory is being set up at a cost of Rs. one crore, and there will be units for ENT and paediatrics alongside. The fourth floor will accommodate a 15-bed paediatrics ward, 14-bed general medicine ward and 12-bed postnatal ward. The fifth floor will have the general medicine ward with 43 beds, while the sixth floor will have three operation theatres and pre-operative wards, he said.

Three years ago, 14 dialysis machines were installed at the Saidapet GH by the Rotary Club, the Minister said, adding that patients from various parts of the city were undergoing dialysis at the hospital. He said that they have sought another 11 new dialysis machines from the Rotary Club. When the building is inaugurated, a total of 25 dialysis machines will be in place. In addition, Rotary Club has also come forward to set up a blood bank at a cost of Rs. one crore.

Mr. Subramanian said that construction work on the building was completed. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has supplied the required equipment, and installation will be completed in a week. The Deputy Chief Minister will inaugurate the building.

NAMAKKAL INCIDENT

To a question that illegal liver donation and transplant has allegedly taken place in Pallipalayam, Namakkal, Mr. Subramanian said that a complaint has been lodged with the police to take action on two brokers. “As per the inquiry committee report, we have recommended police action on whoever is involved, even if any hospital was involved,” he said.