Thiruvananthapuram: A major infrastructure upgrade is set to begin at General Hospital in the state capital, with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan scheduled to inaugurate the construction of a new multi-storey hospital block on Monday. The project, implemented through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), is estimated to cost Rs 137 crore.According to health minister Veena George, the project will transform the appearance and capacity of General Hospital, located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram and caters to thousands of patients every day. She said the new facility would help address the long-standing space constraints faced by the hospital. The proposed structure will be a modern four-storey building equipped with advanced medical facilities. The ground floor will house a reception area, trauma care unit, general outpatient department (OPD), antiretroviral therapy (ARV) clinic and a pharmacy. The first floor will accommodate intensive care units for various departments, along with a seminar hall, e-health services and Bhoomika clinic. The second floor will feature a spacious laboratory complex, a blood bank and specialty and super-specialty outpatient departments. On the top floor, facilities such as a chemotherapy ward, operation theatre complex and dental outpatient department will be set up. In addition to the medical facilities, the building will also include a dedicated service block with an air-conditioning plant, medical gas unit and laundry facilities to support hospital operations. To ensure easy movement for patients, staff and visitors, the building complex will be equipped with 10 elevators.
