Rs. 120 cr. for super specialty hospital in city.

The Centre is likely to sanction its contribution of Rs. 120 crore to the super-specialty hospital proposed to be constructed at Siddhartha Medical College (SMC) here early next year.

The total project cost is estimated to be Rs. 150 crore. Andhra Pradesh Government is to contribute Rs. 30 crore. The project has been proposed under Phase-III of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

The Government Medical College at Anantapur is the only other institution in A.P chosen for upgrading under the PMSSY, according to SMC Principal R. Sasank.

Dr. Sasank told The Hindu that the hospital would be constructed by HSCC (India) Limited (formerly a Government of India enterprise called Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Limited).

It would be a G+5 building with a bed strength of 250 catering to eight super – specialties. They are cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, paediatric surgery, emergency medicine, nephrology and urology.

While the hospital construction would be done by HSCC (India) Limited, the A.P government has to provide the necessary equipment and meet the staff requirement.

Dr. Sasank said the administrative sanction has come last year itself.

The ball is now in the court of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to release the funds. Construction was targeted to be completed in two-and-a-half years. Once the All India Institute of Medical Sciences takes shape at Mangalagiri, Guntur-Vijayawada region will transform into a medical hub including the facility coming up at SMC. The recently commissioned GMCANA (Guntur Medical College Alumni of North America) Super Specialty Hospital and Trauma Care Centre along with the historic Government General Hospital in Guntur is the largest health care provider in the public sector in this region.


THE HINDU