MALAPPURAM: The dilapidated Malappuram government taluk hospital building has been posing a threat to the patients with the plastering of the ceiling coming off frequently. The 60-year-old building houses the labour room, operation theatre and women’s ward. The labour room and operation theatre will be closed temporarily for the renovation works which would be completed within three weeks as decided at a meeting with the municipal council authorities.
Delivery and major operation cases would be referred to the Manjeri Medical College. The district medical officer Dr. Ummer Farook visited the hospital twice in four days as the doctors have expressed concern about the safety of the building.
The OP department has also been shifted to another place. Dr. Farook said that both the labour room and operation theatre had become useless. Only emergency cases would be considered during the period. The work for a new operation theatre will begin soon in the new block of the hospital.
The poor condition of the building had caused panic among the patients and bystanders. The public also took up the issue as the authorities failed to take any action due to the poll code.
