Mangaluru(The Hindu): Continuing the six-decade long relationship with the Government Wenlock Hospital, the Manipal University has agreed to build a new super speciality block for the hospital and manage it. In turn, the State Government has permitted students of the Kastruba Medical College (KMC), under the university, to continue to use the clinical facilities at the Wenlock and Government Lady Goschen Hospitals for the next 33 years.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed between the university and the Department of Health and Family Welfare on April 12. The undergraduate and postgraduate students of the KMC have been using clinical facilities at the 705-bed Wenlock Hospital and 350-bed maternity Lady Goschen Hospital since 1955. The university is also providing services of specialists, paramedical staff, housekeeping staff, and security personnel for the two hospitals.

With the need to cater to increasing number of patients from district and other parts of the State to Wenlock Hospital, the State government proposed the university to build a new building on the Wenlock Hospital premises.

As per the MoU, the university will develop Wenlock Hospital in three phases. In the first phase it will construct the four-storeyed super speciality block in about 1 lakh sqft area. In the second phase, it will renovate wards and retain old part of the hospital as heritage block. In the third phase, the university will renovate the out patient department.

As per the MoU, the clinical fee to be paid to the government will be 50% of the prevailing fee prescribed by the State government. No other institute will be permitted to make use clinical services at the two government hospitals.

The government has set up an executive committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner or Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat and comprising Joint Director of Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services, District Health Officer, District Surgeon, and four representatives of Manipal University to monitor the work of the new project.