Mangaluru: Missing two deadlines, the five-storey new block of Government Lady Goschen Hospital here is yet to be opened for women. If the government officials stick to the latest deadline it will start functioning from this March.

Following a review of Health Department works here in December 2016, Health Minister Ramesh Kumar told reporters that the new block will be operational from March 23, 2017.

In the last week of July 2017, Mangaluru City South MLA J.R. Lobo, who is the member of the Aarogyaraksha Samiti of Government Wenlock and Lady Goschen Hosptials, said the new block will be functional from November 1, 2017.

Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S. told “I have given clearance for the trail run of use of oxygen in the new block. The date of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to inaugurate the new block is awaited.”

Savitha, Medical Superintendent of Lady Goschen Hospital, said that it will take a fortnight for getting water connection to the block.

Once it is ready the outpatient department, help desk, scanning machines, special treatment unit for women and the integrated counselling and testing centre would be moved to the ground floor of the new block from the existing old block.

The facilities on the remaining four floors would be thrown open once the hospital gets clearances from the Electrical Inspectorate, the Karnataka Fire and Emergency Services and the Karnataka Pollution Control Board. “We hope to fully function from the new block from March,” she said.

The construction of 500-bed new block started in 2011 after demolishing a portion of the old block.

Repeated delays in completing the work has affected the care of pregnant and lactating women as the hospital administration has been forced to accommodate some of them in a crammed space.

ONGC-MRPL has given 21 crore out of its corporate social responsibility programme for construction of the new block. The State government has given to Karnataka Health System Development and Reform Project 10 crore for completing pending works of new block of the hospital.

On an average, the hospital handles 20 deliveries of women per day.

The average inpatients per month is 200, while 100 women and children get treated as out patients per day at the hospital.