Rs 35 crore Wenlock OPD block to bring healthcare services under one roof

Mangaluru, 

The government run Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru is set for a major infrastructure upgrade with the inauguration of a new outpatient department (OPD) block built at an estimated cost of Rs 35 crore (Total 70 Crore Project), a move expected to significantly improve patient convenience and reduce overcrowding in the hospital. The launch ceremony will be held to day at Town Hall attended by District Incharge Minister Dinesh Gundurao and Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader in the presence of local MLA's and general public.

District Medical Officer Dr Shivaprasad said the first phase of the new OPD block will be constructed with government funding and is designed to bring multiple healthcare services under one roof, helping patients avoid moving between different buildings and departments inside the busy hospital campus. According to hospital authorities, one of the biggest advantages of the new facility will be reduced patient congestion and smoother movement of outpatients, especially senior citizens, dialysis patients and those visiting the hospital repeatedly for treatment.

The project includes the construction of a dedicated medicine block along with infrastructure improvements aimed at making healthcare access easier and more organised. A lift facility has also been added to support dialysis patients and critically ill persons who face difficulty accessing upper floors. Dr Shivaprasad said the upgraded infrastructure would improve the overall patient experience while strengthening Wenlock Hospital’s ability to handle rising patient inflow from Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring districts.

Apart from the OPD block, a 500 KLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) will also be constructed within the hospital premises replacing the old one at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore under government funding. Hospital officials said the STP facility would furthur help improve sanitation, waste water manage ment and environmental compliance within the large public healthcare campus. Another major component of the expansion is the development work on the fourth and fifth floors of the Medicine Block, which will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore through MRPL Mangaluru CSR funding.

The expansion is expected to create additional treatment space and improve facilities for patients requiring specialised care. Wenlock Hospital remains one of the most important government healthcare institutions in coastal Karnataka, catering to thousands of patients every month. Doctors say infrastructure expansion has become essential as patient numbers continue to rise steadily every year. Officials believe the new projects will not only im prove healthcare delivery but also reduce inconvenience for patients who previously had to navigate overcrowded corridors and multiple scattered departments for consultations, medicines and diagnostic services.