In a major move to upgrade healthcare infrastructure and ensure patient safety, the Casualty and Emergency Orthopaedic Surgery department at Belagavi Civil Hospital (Belagavi Institute Of Medical Sciences – BIMS) has been officially shifted to a newly constructed 50-bed Critical Care Unit.
The previous Casualty section was operating out of a British-era building that was nearly 150 years old. Due to growing concerns regarding the structural stability of the historic building, hospital authorities sought technical evaluations from multiple premier engineering institutions, including IIT Roorkee, NITK Surathkal, and IIT Dharwad.
Given the high estimated testing cost of nearly ₹25 lakh across institutions, an assessment was conducted through Ketcon. The structural audit confirmed that the old structure lacked the necessary strength and recommended its demolition in favor of shifting services to a modern facility.
The new facility—funded by the Central Government under the National Health Mission (NHM)—is fully equipped with modern medical amenities and expanded capacity, including:
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU): 20 dedicated beds
- Trauma Care Ward: 16 dedicated beds
- Enhanced Amenities: Modern duty rooms for medical staff, spacious wards, and improved sanitation and washroom facilities for the public.
Hospital Authority Urges Public Cooperation
While expressing satisfaction with the new facility’s operational readiness, hospital officials voiced serious concern regarding public maintenance.
During routine night rounds following the initial three days of relocation, authorities discovered washroom basins and drainage lines blocked by spit gutkha and plastic waste.
Speaking to the media, hospital representatives delivered a strong plea to the public:
“Civil Hospital is a public institution dedicated to serving the community. We urge visitors and patients to treat this facility with the same care and respect as their own home. Please refrain from spitting gutkha in washbasins or littering plastic in toilets so we can maintain a clean, hygienic, and high-quality environment for everyone.”
Emergency and critical care services are now fully functional in the new Critical Care Unit building.
