Vizag’s Hospital for Mental Care to receive Centre of Excellence

Andhra Pradesh’s only psychiatry hospital located in Visakhapatnam, Government Hospital for Mental Care, would soon be transforming into a Centre of Excellence.

To initiate the first phase of work, the Government of AP has sanctioned Rs 10 crore. While the entire project would cost Rs 38 crore, the share of the State Government would be Rs 9.9 crore.

Centre of Excellence would help in providing proper manpower by upgrading the departments, introducing types of equipment and establishing academic blocks for studying psychiatric nursing, psychiatric social work and clinical psychology.

On an annual rate, the hospital in Visakhapatnam greets 60,000 to 65,000 patients as it is the only government mental care hospital in the entire state.

In view of the project, the hospital’s Superintendent, Dr. S Radharani said, ” Of the initial grant of Rs 10 crore, Rs 8 crore will be spent towards infrastructure development and Rs 2 crore towards equipment. We are planning to get CT scan and MRI machines, for which we have to send patients to KGH at present. We will also bring a lithium analyser machine for serum analysis.”

“As part of infrastructure development plans, we will add child psychiatric wards and geriatric patients wards, rehabilitation block and an academic block as well as hostels for students and faculty. Within two-three months, Andhra Pradesh Medical Service & Infrastructure Development Corporation (APMSIDC) is likely to complete the tender process and we are planning to complete the entire project within two years”, Radharani said.

She also mentioned, “The academic block that is to come upon five-seven acre land next to GHMC, will include three new departments — psychiatric nursing, psychiatric social work and clinical psychology. A one-year diploma will be provided to 40 nursing students per year or those who have done BSc in nursing. The clinical psychology and social work departments would offer two-year MPhil courses to 15 students per year in each department. The block would have classrooms, counselling and faculty rooms and lecture halls. The land is also available for hostel buildings near our family wards and opposite ENT Hospital.”

Credits: Times Of India