The government-run Gandhi General Hospital, which is anything but healthy because of its location, dilapidated buildings and the congested and dirty surroundings, is being shifted to an ultra modern building at Musheerabad, in Secunderabad. Along with that, Gandhi Medical College also will be shifted to the new complex. At present the hospital, located near the Secunderabad railway station, and the medical college, located at Basheerbagh, are 4-5 km apart.

The massive buildings coming up at Musheerabad for relocating the hospital and the medical college, will be completed by January 31, the deadline set by the Medical and Health Minister, Dr Kodela Sivaprasad Rao. And the two institutions will move into the new premises in the first week of February.

The Minister made a surprise visit to the site of the hospital and instructed the officials to complete the buildings before the deadline. The hospital complex is being constructed on a 17-acre plot having breathing space when compared to the existing location. The entire project costs Rs 40 crore, with assistance extended by HUDCO.

The building meant for the hospital has 10 storeys, including cellar and ground floor, and will have a plinth area of 76,000 sq metres. The medical college has a five-storey building with an area of 30,200 sq metres. The medical college will have hostels for boys and girls. The complex will have residences for the Superintendent and the RMO and also provision for a bank, post office, medical store and such other facilities.

Well, modern buildings alone do not make a hospital. It is the ambience, latest equipment, clean and attractive wards and above all responsive doctors, nurses and other staff that will make a good hospital. Will the authorities take a look at some of the corporate hospitals in the city before they start work on the interiors? No doubt, the functioning of the hospital and the medical college from the same complex will be a boon to both the students and the patients.