MADURAI: The state health department has recently allocated second-phase funds of Rs 20 crore towards the construction of the centre of excellence for paediatrics in the Government Rajaji Hospital. With this, the centre is expected to be completed in one year.
Speaking in the Assembly on April 25, 2023, Chief Minister MK Stalin had announced setting up of the centre. The first phase of the project was completed in October 2024 at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
GRH dean Dr L Arul Sundareshkumar said “ The ground and two floors was constructed at Rs 20 crore in the first phase. During a visit of National Health Mission (NHM) Director Arun Thamburaj, and officials from the health department, we stressed the importance of the block. The Tamil Nadu government has now allocated Rs 20 crore. We will soon finalise a contractor and allot the work. The project will be completed within one year.”
Social activist Anandraj said,”It is sad that the project is getting delayed. We filed a writ petition in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court seeking a direction to the government to take action to reduce infant mortality rate in Madurai and other southern districts of Tamil Nadu as facilities like the Institute of Child Health and Hospital (ICH)-Chennai are not available here.”
According to him between 2018 and 2021, 4,432 surgeries were conducted in the Paediatric Surgery Unit at GRH out of which 261 infants died allegedly due to inadequate care. “The court passed an order on 16 December 2022 stating the state government should approve the proposal with respect to medicare issues, if any, with immediate effect. Subsequently, the centre for excellence project was announced.”