Bellaud inaugurates renovated HDMC hospital

Dharwad: The renovated Hubbballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation maternity hospital adjacent to old bus stand in Dharwad was inaugurated by MLA Arvind Bellad on Saturday.
The hospital renovated at a cost of Rs 45 lakh has five separate cabins for doctors, and a laboratory. The building has been renovated and the road to the hospital has been asphalted. Deshpande Foundation has donated an USG machine costing Rs 14.5 lakh.
Specialist doctors including senior paediatrician Dr Rajan Deshpande who are also members of Rotary Clubs have offered their services free to the hospital.
HDMC commissioner Suresh Itnal said two doctors, three nurses and four Group ‘D’ staff have been recruited for the hospital.
“We are launching this programme on a trial basis, and depending on the response, we will decide on extending it to other hospitals, should more private doctors volunteer,” Itnal said.
The enlisting of services of private doctors comes as a measure to pre-empt any possible crisis by predicted third wave of Covid-19.
HDMC had felt the shortage of doctors when the twin cities reeled under the onslaught of the pandemic’s second wave.
Private doctors have agreed to visit HDMC’s maternity hospital daily, and attend to patients.
“Paediatricians, orthopaedic surgeons, ophthalmologists, gynaecologists, general surgeons, among other experts, have expressed their interest to serve at the hospital. They will spend at least two or three hours at this hospital,” Dr Rajan Deshpande said.
HDMC health officer Sridhar Dandappanavar said the honorary doctors would work at the hospital in the afternoon. “Consultation will be free, and the registration charge for patients will be nominal. We have installed an ultrasonography machineand will fix the price for the scan soon,” he said.
The members of Facebook group Dharwad Bonds have beautified the hospital premises by painting Warli Art on its compound wall.