Mangaluru : The State government has sought Rs. 22 crore from the Union government under the National Health Mission scheme for renovation of the Government Wenlock Hospital. The proposal has been made at a time when Kasturba Medical College here has asked the hospital on “lease” for 30 years to help its students continue using the clinical facilities there.

Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader said that the government would take up restoration of the old building of the hospital established in 1848. As the building was old, the hospital lost points and was adjudged runners-up for the Kayakalpa Award instituted under the Swachh Bharat Mission for clean government hospitals in the country. The Belagavi government hospital was adjudged the winner. Mr. Khader said that a separate neurology and urology block were being built at the hospital at the cost of Rs. 15 crore.

He said that the Government Wenlock Hospital and the Government Lady Goschen Hospital had applied for accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare. “We need to improve facilities at these two hospitals for getting the accreditation,” he said.

Asked why there was a proposal to spend so much on a hospital which was proposed to be taken on lease by Kasturba Medical College, Mr. Khader said the proposal was still being discussed at the district level. “It is too premature. We are yet to hear from the district administration. Once we receive their opinion, we will look into it. We will not take any action that harms interest of patients coming to the hospital.”

Mr. Khader said that several structural alterations needed to be made on the new building of the Lady Goschen Hospital, which was yet to be completed even four years after starting the work. Structural changes are necessary to have facilities such as neonatal care unit and modular operation theatre.

There is a need for about Rs. 10 crore in addition to Rs. 21.7 crore being provided by the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. “We are discussing ways to provide these additional funds. We can consider diversion of Rs. 10 crore sanctioned for the mother and child block to be constructed at the Lady Goschen Hospital,” he said.