150 year old Srirangam Govt Hospital proposed for major infrastructure upgrade
A new hospital building has been proposed for Srirangam Government Hospital to replace ageing infrastructure and strengthen healthcare services in the region.
Tiruchi: The Tamil Nadu Health Department has proposed constructing a new building for the Government Hospital in Srirangam, replacing ageing infrastructure at one of the region's oldest public healthcare facilities.
The proposal comes as several parts of the existing hospital have become dilapidated, with some structures dating back over 150 years.
Located on Gandhi Road opposite the new bus terminal in Srirangam, the hospital began functioning as a dispensary in 1873 during the British era and has since been upgraded to a taluk hospital. The facility currently caters to around 750 outpatients every day and has an average inpatient occupancy of up to 120 patients.
The hospital is spread across approximately three acres of land owned by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department. It operates under the Directorate of Medical Services, which pays a monthly rent of Rs 80,000 for the premises.
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The hospital has a sanctioned strength of 21 doctors and provides a range of essential healthcare services. It houses departments including General Medicine, General Surgery, Ophthalmology, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, along with a labour ward and dialysis facility. Basic surgical procedures are also performed at the hospital, reports The Hindu.
According to sources, while some hospital buildings were constructed around 20 years ago, others- including the casualty block and male medical ward- are more than 150 years old and have deteriorated significantly. The male medical ward was declared unfit for occupation a few years ago and has since been closed. Sources further indicated that nearly half of the existing infrastructure remains usable, while the remaining buildings can no longer be safely utilised.
Confirming the proposal, HR&CE Minister Shri S. Ramesh said the government has decided to establish new infrastructure for the hospital. He stated that discussions are underway on whether the new facility should be constructed at the existing site or at a different location. A formal decision on the project is expected to be announced soon, with the objective of improving healthcare services and providing updated medical facilities for patients in the region.
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