Maternity hospital to be moved into Institute of Pregnant Women building

Tirupati: Giving respite to the pregnant women, the state government has, at last, issued orders for the handing over of the much talked about building of Institute of Pregnant Women (IPW) in Tirupati.

It was almost 45 months since the building was first inaugurated in February 2014. Built at a cost of Rs 77 crore, the foundation stone was laid for the building in April 2012. Ever since its inauguration, controversy surrounded the building as it was not used for its intended purpose.

Instead of allotting the completed building to the Government Maternity Hospital, it was handed over to SVIMS to run its Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women without which they would have lost 150 medical seats.

Though it was given to SVIMS for one year they could not vacate it as the construction of their own building was delayed for various reasons. Finally, they relinquished the IPW building to the government in August 2017.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has again inaugurated it on August 7, 2017 and Health Minister Dr Kamineni Srinivas assured to provide all equipment and human resources on war footing in 45 days.

He did not fulfil his assurance even after 3 months. Former MP Chinta Mohan, who was instrumental in getting central funds for the construction of IPW building during the Congress regime made several protests in this regard.

It is in this backdrop, Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah issued a memo on November 6 directing the DM&HO to handover the building immediately to the Superintendent of Government Maternity Hospital.

Accordingly, the DM&HO Dr S Vijaya Gowri wrote to the Superintendent to take over the IPW building immediately. With one stalemate ending on a fruitful note, hospital authorities are gearing up to get all the equipment and human resources sanctioned by thegovernment.

The first and foremost requirement is security. There were only two floors in the present building as against four floors in the IPW building with two blocks. They need more security personnel and CCTV cameras to be installed. Also, more cleaning staff and para medical staff are required.

At least another three units of faculty might be required there, said a senior doctor. But, the faculty was hopeful that once they moved into the new building with the existing equipment and furniture, other things will follow in due course.

Initially, they are planning to shift the Obstetrics wing to the new building, which will have neonatology, family planning, faculty and seminar halls etc. The existing building may be used for gynaecology related purposes.

However, concerns over the existing maternity hospital building seems to have riding on the minds of officials, as they have been trying to secure super speciality courses to SV Medical College.

To get these courses, they have to show the Medical Council of India (MCI) a super speciality block with all the concerned departments like urology, cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery and neuro surgery under one roof.

Building a new block will take time and resources and it will delay the procedure. Instead, a senior professor observed that the government can allot the existing maternity hospital building for the purpose of super specality courses.

As far as surgery departments are concerned, the college is having full-fledged faculty and some equipment, which will be enough to meet the requirements of MCI. Speaking to The Hans India, SV Medical College Principal Dr NV Ramanaiah said that, “it will be good idea. If we get the seats, then the students will be benefitted. I will take up the issue to the higher authorities”.

By V Pradeep Kumar