Vani Vilas to get new NICU, HRPU units

Bangalore: The government-run Vani Vilas Hospital may soon get the much-awaited neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and high risk pregnancy unit (HRPU). The proposal has been sent to the State Govern­ment, the Adminis­trative Head of the Hospital said.

The area to accommodate the two units has been identified and work is likely to begin soon. Dr Some Gowda, Medical Superintendent, Vani Vilas said, “We have slated and proposed the area around the old canteen and the space behind it for the new building for NICU and HRPU. We have already sent the proposal to the Government through the Dean and Director, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute and discussions are on.”

The hospital currently manages high risk pregnancies in the labour ward. Due to the Metro work, 5 wards (Pediatric ICU, Thalassemia, General Pediatric, GE and Nephro) had to be shifted from the old building to the OBG Building, which also houses the labour ward and the septic ward. leading to overcrowding.

As per the plan, the new building will have 5 floors, of which 2 will be funded by the Bangalore Metro Railway Corpora­tion Limited. The NICU will have 25 beds with incubators.

Meanwhile in the HRPU, pregnancy cases related to cardiac issues, respiratory problem related pregnancy cases and other serious and unique cases will be taken care of.