Chief Minister to inaugurate Katpadi’s first government hospital on October 6

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will virtually inaugurate the first full-fledged 60 bed-Government Taluk Hospital at Serkadu village in Katpadi, Vellore, on October 6. 

Officials of the Public Works Department (PWD), which executed the multi-crore project, said that the new government hospital has modern health facilities, including ECG, CT scan, and surgery theatres.

The new facility also has round-the-clock power supply backed by diesel generators. “Unlike other areas in Vellore, Katpadi has only government health centres with minimum facilities. Residents, especially senior citizens and children, have to depend on private hospitals,” said B. Vanitha, a resident.

Minister for Water Resources Department Duraimurugan, who is also the MLA for Katpadi constituency, inspected the new government hospital in the presence of Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi on Friday.

At present, Katpadi has a decades-old Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) that functions between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on all days excluding Sunday. The centre has a duty doctor and a few medical staff. On an average, the centre gets about 500 to 700 out-patients every day. Most of the cases are referred to the Government Medical College Hospital, far away from Katpadi area.

 The two-storey hospital has been built at a cost of ₹14.30 crore and is spread over 15 acres of government land. The new facility will have separate sections for cardiology, neurology, paediatrics, nephrology, obstetrics, and gynaecology. Separate wards for emergency and accident related cases, cancer treatment, sedation, and X-ray rooms will also form part of the new facility. Five rooms have been allotted to treat out-patients alone.

Civic amenities

Among civic amenities, the new hospital has two lifts for patients, staff and doctors. Each floor has a drinking water facility and separate washrooms.

The entire premises has a rainwater harvesting system with solar panels to provide power supply for lights in the premises. Separate parking areas for cars, two-wheelers are provided. CCTV cameras have also been installed for surveillance. Bus facilities to the new hospital will be increased to provide easy access for visitors, Corporation officials said.

The new government hospital is a lifeline for people in Katpadi region and adjoining over 40 farming villages because currently they have to travel at least 15 km to reach Government Medical College Hospital in Adukkamparai village on the outskirts of Vellore Corporation limits for advance treatment.