Udupi dist GH may be upgraded to 250-bedded hospital

Udupi, Jan 16 (UNI) The Karnataka Government is contemplating to upgrade the 140-bedded district Government Hospital here to a bed strength of 250, Medical Education and district incharge Minister Dr V S Acharya said today.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 11.50 lakh 'Panchakarma' block of Ayush Ayurvedic hospital at the district GH premises here, he said he had taken up the issue with both Health Minister R Ashok and the Commissioner of health department and a meeting had been convened for tomorrow.

Dr Acharya said that to make it a full-fledged teaching hospital, the Medical Council of India (MCI) had put forth several conditions, including increasing the bed strength, equipment and having required staff strength. The Government had initiated the process.

The Minister said the Government had also decided to have an ayurvedic hospital in every district GH in the country in the 11th five-year plan period.

The Centre had released Rs 10.5 lakh as the first installment of the total Rs 34 lakh earmarked for the ayurvedic hospital here. The first phase would have a full-fledged 'panchakarma' block with ten beds. The State Government had sanctioned an Out Patient Department (OPD) and an inpatient ward in the women and children hospital in Udupi, which had started functioning. The required staff for this would be made available by April, he added.

Dr Acharya inaugurated the Rs three lakh oxygen supply line to the ICU and operation theatre at the hospital, donated by the Oriental Bank of India.

UNI