Breather for Puthenvelikkara hospital

PARAVOOR: Puthenvelikkara Government Hospital, which has been lying neglected for a long time is all set for revival, if the offer put forward by V D Satheesan MLA is any indication. The 40-bedded hospital has little facilities  to cater to the hundreds of patients who come here daily. In the wake of widespread protests demanding better facilities at the hospital by the elected representatives of Puthenvelikkara panchayat and the hospital development committee, V D Satheesan MLA has promised to expedite the development activities of the hospital.Most of the buildings in the hospital compound are in bad shape owing to lack of planning. A master plan has been developed to improve the infrastructure facilities. According to the plan, it has been decided to demolish all the buildings that are on the verge of collapse and to set up a multi-storeyed hospital complex. The funds will be generated in support of National Rural Health Mission, Satheesan said.There are also largescale complaints on the shortage of doctors. Three doctors, which include one physician allotted by the National Rural Health Mission, allegedly opted to stay out of the village citing poor accommodation facility. The roof of the hospital, including that of the mortuary, is in tatters. Most of the buildings were constructed without planning. The operation theatre constructed by the block panchayat lacks equipment and hence unable to conduct a surgery. When the hospital was elevated to a taluk hospital, the services of four additional doctors were sanctioned in the hospital. A master plan for the improvement of infrastructure has been prepared by the Kerala Land Development Corporation. Elected representatives like P K Ullas, Antony Putherickal, Lissy Shaju, T T Biju, Annie Thomas, Prasanna Radhakrishnan, Sheena Sebastian, Sumeela Sivan and K J Porinchu, hospital development committee members V S Anikkuttan and K A Biju were present at the hospital when the engineers visited the proposed site for the construction of the multi-storeyed building.