Big plans to upgrade KR, Cheluvamba hospitals in city

MMC&RI has proposed further development at a cost of Rs 170 cr

If all goes well, the facilities at K R Hospital and Cheluvamba Women and Children’s Hospital here may be augmented in the coming years, with the authorities concerned drawing a plan to upgrade the hospitals at whopping Rs 170 crore.

The office of Dean and Director of Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC and RI) the umbrella body of the hospitals, got a shot in the arm recently.

The project was approved in the meeting of Governing Council held at Bangalore on October 27. What remains next is the nod of Finance department, Dean Dr B Krishnamurthy told Deccan Herald.

Krishnamurthy said the proposal follows the directions of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In his previous review meeting in the city held at the Regional Commissioner’s office, the Chief Minister had suggested the medical college authorities to think big, to cater to the growing demand for health services.

 The hospitals cater to the patients from five districts like Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu and Hassan.

Accordingly the Public Works Department (PWD) was entrusted with the task of drawing up a  plan. For K R Hospital, a multi-storeyed building with six floors has been planned at the cost of Rs 95 crore. 

The existing place near the special wards complex within the precincts of the hospital has been identified for the purpose. This will increase the total number of beds by 100 against the existing 1,000 beds. 

There will be eight additional operation theatres against the present 11, while facilities like MRI scanning, X-ray, specialised back-up laboratories among others, will be introduced. 

Multi-storeyed building

Similarly, at Cheluvamba, a nine floor building is being planned at the cost of Rs 75 crore, which will add 250 beds to the existing 450. There will also be additional labour wards and OT rooms. AT present, there are four OTs and three labour wards in the hospital.

The hospitals being the lifeline of patients mostly from economically backward sections belonging to Mysore and surrounding districts, receives 1,800 patients per day at out-patient blocks (OPDs).

 K R Hospital receives a majority of patients -- in the range of 1,000, followed by 400 at Cheluvamba and PKTB Sanatorium, another constituent hospital on KRS road. The strengthening of OPD units is also included in the plan, Krishnamurthy added.

Krishnamurthy said, the new building will be integrated with the imposing structure of K R and  Cheluvamba Hospital that has heritage value.

The plans if materialised, will also warrant for increasing the manpower, as the hospitals at present are facing a shortage of 50 nurses against 350 sanctioned posts. 

The hospitals have both teaching staff and interns totalling up to 600. There will be a requirement of another 300 nurses and supporting staff.