As hospitals prepare to handle infectious disease outbreak with greater efficiency, a dedicated facility to keep patients safe in isolation is taking shape. The hospital already has a ward but it only has around 60 beds capacity, which is much less than the new building. The upcoming three-storey Infectious Disease Ward will add 120 beds to the hospital’s capacity, focusing on preventing spread of infectious diseases and ensuring safe treatment. However, despite work beginning in December 2024, the project has progressed at a slow pace, with only around 35 per cent of construction work completed so far. The facility will comprise three separate wards, each having a capacity of 40 beds, with complete isolation arrangements. It is intended for patients suffering from infectious and contagious diseases who require isolation, close monitoring and specialised care.

 

These may include patients with serious respiratory infections, viral or bacterial infections and other communicable diseases where keeping patients separately is necessary to prevent transmission. The dedicated facility is expected to reduce the risk of infection spreading to other patients, attendants and healthcare workers. Separate isolation wards will also allow medical teams to manage patients according to the nature of their infection and treatment requirements. The three-storey building is being constructed under a project timeline of December 2024 to April 2027. While the scheduled completion date is still months away, the current pace of work, with only 35 per cent progress nearly two years after commencement, raises concerns over whether construction will pick up sufficiently to meet the deadline. The 120-bed facility is expected to become particularly important during infectious disease outbreaks, when hospitals can face a sudden increase in patients requiring isolation.

 

The additional capacity would allow infectious cases to be segregated from patients being treated for non-infectious conditions. Authorities are also planning an auditorium as part of the broader infrastructure development. However, there is no confirmation yet. Once completed, the Infectious Disease Ward is expected to significantly strengthen the hospital’s infection-control infrastructure. However, with work progressing at a slow pace, faster execution will be crucial to ensure that the planned 120-bed isolation facility becomes operational before April 2027 deadline.