Minister Gandhi inaugurated the new building of Siddha Hospital on Wednesday. |Image source: Special arrangement
The oldest Siddha Hospital in Ranipet district, established for more than fifty years, on Wednesday erected a separate permanent building on the Akot-Alani main road.
Earlier, the hospital also housed a primary healthcare center (PHC) and a maternity center on its premises. In the presence of Collector JU Chandrakala and Arcot Municipal Engineer-in-Charge M. Parurasu, Ranipet MLA and Handloom and Textiles Minister R. Gandhi, the building was inaugurated on the 15th of 2023 -24 was constructed at a cost of Rs 3.1 million under a joint grant from the 1st Finance Commission.
“The building provides adequate facilities for staff and patients. The hospital is the only such facility in the district,” Akot Municipal Commissioner R. Venketa Lakshman told The Hindu.
Features of the facility
The new building spans more than 32,000 square feet and includes separate rooms for medical staff and staff. It is equipped with patient dressing rooms, external treatment rooms, pharmacies, storage rooms, and a visitor hall that can accommodate about 100 people. “The previous building experienced water seepage during the monsoon and there was no waiting hall for tourists. People had to wait under the trees outside…” said patient S. Fathima.
In its first years, the hospital received 150 to 200 patients a day from various nearby towns. Over the years, the building developed cracks. There are also problems of flooding and water seepage when it rains. Currently, 50 to 60 patients visit the hospital every day.
The patients came from towns such as Walajah, Ranipet, Arakkonam, Sholinghur and Melvisharam and their main symptoms were back and knees Pain and skin irritation. The hospital is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all day except Sunday. Patients receive free medicines, mostly ointments.
Published – November 7, 2024 12:58 AM (IST)
