Puttur government hospital to be upgraded to 220 beds ahead of medical college launch in 2027-28

Puttur: Work has begun to upgrade the Puttur Government Hospital from a 100-bed facility to a 220-bed hospital as part of preparations to launch the proposed Puttur Government Medical College and Research Centre (PMCRI) in the 2027-28 academic year.

The medical college is planned to function temporarily from the old court building in Puttur until its permanent campus is constructed. The Medical Education Department has decided to start the college in the existing building.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai has obtained government approval to begin classes in November 2027 with an initial intake of 50 students. A Plan B has been prepared to ensure that the college begins functioning without waiting for the construction of its permanent buildings.

As part of the preparations, renovation work will be carried out at the old court building, while the government hospital will be expanded to meet the requirements of a medical college hospital.

Rs 8.80 crore allocated for the project

The State Health and Family Welfare Department has approved the use of Puttur Government Hospital to support the proposed medical college. Separate funding of Rs 8.80 crore has been sanctioned for renovating the old court building and expanding the government hospital.

The existing 100-bed government hospital will be upgraded to a 220-bed facility to meet the requirements of the medical college hospital.

To accommodate the additional 120 beds, the Health Department has taken possession of the old taluk office building located next to the government hospital. Repair and renovation work is currently underway.

The old building is being completely renovated and converted into general wards. The work includes repairs to the roof, walls and flooring. Arrangements are also being made to connect the renovated building directly to the existing hospital.

Old court building to house temporary medical college

The old court building, which will temporarily function as the medical college, is located next to the government hospital.

The building has already been handed over to the Special Officer of the Puttur Government Medical College and the Medical Superintendent/Administrative Medical Officer of the government hospital, which will serve as the teaching hospital.

The building has subsequently been handed over to the Engineering Division of the Health Department for renovation.

Old jail building has served several purposes

The sturdy old building located beside the Puttur Taluk Government Hospital was originally used as a sub-jail during British rule. A taluk magistrate's office was later constructed next to it.

After Independence, the sub-jail was shifted to Mangaluru, and the buildings were converted into the Puttur taluk office.

When the Mini Vidhana Soudha was constructed in Puttur, the taluk office shifted to the new premises, leaving the old building vacant.

Later, following the sanction of a government women's college for Puttur, the college began functioning in the old building. However, after the women's college was shifted to Boluvar, the building became vacant again.

It is now being renovated and converted into hospital wards.

Medical college to begin with 50 students next year

"We have planned to start the government medical college in Puttur in the next academic year with 50 students. Classes will initially be conducted in the old court building, while the government hospital will be upgraded to a 220-bed facility and converted into a medical college hospital. The plan is to shift the medical college and hospital to their new buildings in the second year," said Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai.

By Kiran Sarpady