Construction of new health centres gathers pace

A new health sub centre is being built near the UPHC at Edamalaipattipudur in Tiruchi on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ANCY DONAL MADONNA

Work on the construction of new urban primary health centres (UPHCs) and health sub centres (HSC) across the city is progressing at a brisk pace and the Tiruchi Corporation expects to complete it within two months.

The patronage of UPHCs has increased in recent years and the need for more centres was felt during the COVID-19 pandemic when the demand for public health facilities increased. Such health centres would ensure hassle-free access to medical care and strengthen the healthcare sector.

In 2024-25, about 15.94 lakh people availed of treatment at the 18 UPHCs and 25 Health and Wellness Centres.

The scheme envisages one UPHC for a population of 50,000 to ensure effective healthcare delivery. By this yardstick, the city, with a population of 12 lakh, requires 24 urban primary health centres. At present, Tiruchi has 18 UPHCs catering to pregnancy check-ups, consultations, and medication needs for non-communicable diseases.

Several new UPHCs are established across the city with existing ones undergoing renovations and expansions. A new facility is being built at Panjapur with provision for an inpatient facility, consultation rooms, and labs. The centre is aimed at covering the low-income groups in the locality. Similarly, the old facilities at Kattur, Srirangam, and Beerangikulam were demolished, and a new one is being constructed in the same location.

Construction of additional buildings is under way at Teppakulam, Beemanagar, and Tiruverumbur areas. Work on two new facilities at Ariyamangalam and Subramaniyapuram is yet to begin as the construction was delayed due to an issue in site clearance. Meanwhile, a facility at Thennur is ready for inauguration.

Similarly, HSCs are being established at East Boulevard Road, Edamalaipattipudur, Kattur, J.J. Nagar, Srirangam, and Tiruvanaikovil. While centres at Kamarajnagar, Melur, Malaikovil, and Woraiyur are ready for inauguration.

“Work at several health centres is at finishing stages and is expected to be completed within two months. Steps are being taken to improve infrastructure at the few UPHCs, where the patronage is high,” said M. Vijay Chandran, City Health Officer.

The new centres are being set up in the city under the National Urban Health Mission with financial assistance from the Centre and State governments. The approximate project estimate of each UPHC is ₹1.5 crore, and HSC is ₹25 lakh.

So far, UPHCs in Ramalinga Nagar, Subramaniapuram, Gandhipuram, Periya Milaguparai, and Edamalaipattipudur have received the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification for upholding high standards of quality.