Malappuram: The district’s healthcare sector received a significant boost on Tuesday, with Health Minister Veena George inaugurating a series of major infrastructure projects across government hospitals.

The largest share of the ₹114.92 crore worth of works went to Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri, where new facilities include a girls’ hostel, teaching staff quarters, and internal roads (₹103.86 crore). Other additions are an Interventional Radiology Block (₹1.10 crore), a Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (₹2.35 crore), a 750 KVA generator (₹1.38 crore), a labour room and cardiology OPD (₹1.20 crore), and a 128-slice CT scan unit (₹5 crore). The minister noted that the state government has invested ₹277 crore in the college since its upgrade from a general hospital in 2013.

She also inaugurated the upgradation of Karikkad and Cherukoth sub-centres under Thrikkalangode Family Health Centre into People’s Health Centres.

At Government District Hospital, Perinthalmanna, a new OPD block under the Nava Kerala Karma Padhathi 2 scheme was opened. Built with ₹1.26 crore from the Health Department and NHM, the ground floor houses General Medicine, Chest, Dermatology, and Orthopaedics OPDs, while the first floor accommodates General Surgery, ENT, and Oncology OPDs.

The foundation stone for Aliparamba Family Health Centre’s new building was laid virtually, funded with ₹1.43 crore from NHM and ₹13 lakh from the local panchayat.

Tirur Government District Hospital saw the inauguration of a nine-storey cancer care building, funded with ₹33.7 crore from NABARD and ₹7 crore from the District Panchayat. The facility offers chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a cancer ICU, and wards for men and women. Currently, only the first three floors are operational. A mammogram unit worth ₹21.14 lakh, one of six in the state, has been installed, and a modern microbiology lab is nearing completion.

At Taluk Headquarters Hospital, Kottappadi, the ophthalmology department was expanded with a new second floor and renovated OPD (₹1.31 crore). At the same venue, the minister virtually inaugurated the upgradation of 25 sub-centres in eight constituencies into People’s Health Centres.

Government Taluk Hospital,Tirurangadi, received ₹2.10 crore worth of projects, including a 1,25,000-litre sewage treatment plant, a 360-degree metabolic care centre, and a Karunya Community Pharmacy.

The Tanur Social Health Centre, recently upgraded to a taluk hospital, saw the first phase of its 8,000 sq ft new complex inaugurated (₹12.38 crore). The second phase, costing ₹10 crore, is under construction. The whole 40,000 sq ft facility, funded by the Nava Kerala Mission and budget allocations, will cost ₹40 crore.

At Kuttippuram Taluk Hospital, the Minister opened a new ophthalmology OPD theatre block (₹1.54 crore, NHM funds) and laid the foundation for a NABARD-funded master plan building (₹17.85 crore). The four-storey structure will house emergency, pharmacy, OPDs, and offices on the first floor; operating theatres, labour rooms, and ICUs on the second; a paediatric ward and nurses’ station on the third; and a medical ward on the fourth.

She also inaugurated new buildings for the Valanchery, Ponmala, and Kottakkal Family Health Centres.