Hospital renovation row escalates as Veena targets protesters

The controversy over the proposal to shift several departments from Pathanamthitta Taluk General Hospital to Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) at Konni has taken a new turn with Health Minister Veena George accusing protesters of obstructing the much-needed renovation of the hospital.

During a surprise inspection of the hospital on Wednesday, the Minister highlighted the deteriorating state of its infrastructure. She pointed out that significant portions of the facility, including operation theatres, are unsafe.

“We need to renovate the building, including pillars, to ensure patient safety. Usually, protests arise because of such dilapidated conditions, but here the protestors are trying to stall the maintenance efforts,” she said.

The Minister specifically focussed on the B and C blocks of the hospital, constructed around 20 years ago. Many of its pillars have rotted, electrical wiring is exposed, and chunks of concrete have fallen off, all of which has rendered the building structurally unsafe . The operation theatre on the top floor has developed leaks.

To facilitate the restoration work, which will begin with the operation theatre and a ward on the top floors of the B and C blocks , these facilities will be temporarily relocated to the Konni MCH. This move will ensure uninterrupted medical care during the estimated three-month repair period, the Minister added.

Experts’ inspection

According to Ms. George the restoration is based on a thorough inspection by an expert committee, including testing of samples from the building’s components.

Opposition parties have staged protests alleging that relocating the hospital’s equipment is part of a broader plan to dismantle the Pathanamthitta Taluk General Hospital. The protestors argue that moving services to the MCH would cause significant difficulties for the public, especially those from rural areas.

The Kerala Government Medical Officers Association has opposed the Health department’s plan to shift major surgical departments, including Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, General Surgery and ENT, to Konni.

Published - June 05, 2025 05:59 pm IST