The super speciality block of Government Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital, which has been established on the Thoothukudi Medical College premises in Third Mile at a cost of ₹136.35 crore stands tall without a compound wall as no fund has been allocated for this purpose.
The proposal to build a super speciality block at the hospital was mooted as it would drastically cut the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital’s burden besides serving patients from Ramanathapuram district a lot.
The Centre and the State governments came forward to share the project cost at a 60 : 40 ratio, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin laid the foundation stone for this facility on February 28, 2023 and the construction started on March 15 for creating the 7-storey structure with 650 beds.
As the construction has almost been completed, interiors are being given final touches while installation of medical equipments has started, which is likely to be finished within a month.
However, the absence of compound wall around this super speciality block irks the doctors of TKMCH and the medicos.
“The governments, which released over ₹136 crore for this much-needed super speciality block, have not allocated funds for the compound wall around it. A compound wall will ensure everyone’s safety and the speedy recovery of the patients by preventing the entry of unwanted people after the ‘visitors’ hours’. Though we represented this demand with the officials with Department of Public Health, none listened to it,” said a doctor at the hospital.
A senior official attached to the contract firm constructing the super speciality block too confirmed it saying that they would remove temporary structures erected around the block used for isolating the construction activities once their work at the main building was completed. “There is no mention about the compound wall in the agreement,” the official said.
When Minister for Social Welfare P. Geetha Jeevan visited the super speciality block on Wednesday as Mr. Stalin was likely to inaugurate it either in July or August, the doctors hesitantly raised this issue and the Minister immediately promised to take-up this demand with the officials concerned.
Another major problem was the lack of funds for creating kitchen in the super speciality block to prepare food for the patients. “After the Collector was informed about this problem, he has assured to make the funds available for the kitchen,” said another doctor.
If the patients undergoing treatment in the old hospital complex near the District Court Complex require advanced medical assistance, they would have to be shifted to the super speciality block, for which a fully-equipped ambulance with life support facilities is needed.
“We can’t take the risk of shifting them in ordinary ambulance as we’ll have to travel at least two km to reach the super speciality block in Third Mile from the old building. So, the government should provide an ambulance with mini intensive care unit facilities,” the doctor said.
Another suggestion from most of the doctors was the installation of solar power panels in the super speciality block for generating power and also for water heating purpose.