Medical college OP block to get a facelift

The out-patient block of Government Medical College, Ernakulam, is set to get a facelift, which will make it more patient-friendly.

The ₹4.3-crore project to renovate the OP block is being taken up under the Aardram scheme.

Work is on to set up a token-based OP system, with ample seating arrangements for patients, so that patients may approach the consulting doctor as soon as the OP ticket number is displayed on a digital screen. There will be no “waiting” patients in front of the OP room.

The project also includes new pharmacy counters that will come up alongside the OP block. Patients may easily access the counters from the block.

The Karunya pharmacy building, which occupies the front section of the OP block at present, will be shifted to another building coming up adjacent to the OP block.

Transfer of funds

However, all the works are falling short of ₹92 lakh. Principal A.K. Sreekala said the medical college had requested the government to transfer the unutilised part of the ₹1-crore fund provided through the National Health Mission (NHM) to the Aardram kitty. The institution was provided the NHM fund to create patient-friendly services toward the end of the last financial year and hence it could not be fully utilised, she said.

About ₹48 lakh from the fund was used to improve facilities in the medical college, which include rainwater harvesting, water purifiers and water coolers for patients and bystanders, modernisation of lifts, play area for children and garden area.

The medical college, with support from the Kalamassery municipality, will also be setting up a biogas project.