Bhavnagar: In a significant boost to healthcare infrastructure in the Saurashtra region, the construction of a modern 1,300-bed Medicity is underway near Nari village in Bhavnagar. The project, estimated to cost ₹587 crore, aims to provide comprehensive medical services under one roof to residents of Bhavnagar, Amreli, and Botad districts.

State-of-the-art facilities and capacity

The new Medicity will be a centrally air-conditioned complex spread across 1.64 lakh square metres. It is designed to accommodate 976 general beds and 316 ICU beds, taking the total capacity to 1,300 beds.

A key feature of the project is a dedicated eight-storey Mother-and-Child Health (MCH) wing for Gynaecology and Pediatrics, focusing on maternal and child healthcare.

The hospital will have 30 modular major operation theatres and 10 minor operation theatres. Various departments, including Medicine, TB, Infectious Diseases, Psychiatry, Dermatology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, and others, will function in the new facility.

Phased development and medical education

The project is being implemented in four phases, and the entire facility is expected to be completed by December 2028.

• Phase 1: Construction of 11-storey boys’ and girls’ hostels, each with a capacity of 1,000 students, is nearing completion.

• Phase 2: Construction of the academic block and postgraduate hostels.

• Phase 3: Construction of the main hospital building.

• Phase 4: Development of residential quarters for doctors, the Dean, and the Superintendent.

A medical college spread over 37,760 square metres will also be developed near the Medicity, with an intake capacity of 250 undergraduate and 50 postgraduate students.

‘Unitary campus’ concept to benefit patients

At present, several departments of Sir T. Hospital operate from different locations, causing inconvenience to patients. According to Dr. Chinmay Shah, Dean of Government Medical College, the new Medicity will follow a “Unitary Campus” concept, where all departments and laboratories will be located in one place, eliminating the need for patients to move between buildings.

Free treatment and digital healthcare facilities

The government has announced that major surgeries such as hip and knee replacements will be provided free of cost at the Medicity. Future plans also include facilities for angiography and angioplasty.

The Medicity will also feature advanced IT integration, including online appointments, digital medical reports, and smart classrooms for medical students. While the new Medicity will handle super-specialty cases, the existing Sir T. Hospital and cancer hospital will continue to provide basic treatment and vaccination services. DeshGujarat