Mangaluru: Deputy commissioner Darshan HV directed officials to prepare and implement a comprehensive master plan for the overall development of Wenlock District Hospital.He was speaking while chairing the executive committee meeting of the Arogya Raksha Samithi held at Wenlock hospital on Wednesday. The DC stressed that a master plan is essential to make various hospital departments more patient-friendly, and instructed officials to swiftly act in this regard. Wenlock hospital superintendent Dr Shivaprakash informed that the state govt has sanctioned Rs 70 crore for the construction of a new, modern OPD building, after demolishing the existing outpatient block. All current departments in the OPD building will be shifted to the trauma block before demolition. The tender process for the project is currently under way. The DC also directed that key facilities such as OPD, x-ray, radiology, and other units be housed in a single location for the convenience of patients. It was also informed that a proposal has already been sent to the govt to constitute a separate Arogya Raksha Samithi for Govt Lady Goschen Hospital. Meanwhile, construction of a 50-bed critical care building under the PM ABHIM scheme at Wenlock is nearing completion. For the 2.7 acres of vacant land belonging to Wenlock hospital on Attavar Road, a letter has been sent to the Mangaluru City Corporation to develop a pay-and-park facility. The meeting also approved leasing out ground floor shops in the new surgical block building for commercial use through auction. Zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari, Lady Goschen Hospital superintendent Dr Durgaprasad and DHO Dr HR Thimmaiah were present.

