A Model Primary Maternity Care Centre will be set up at the Seethalakshmi Urban Primary Health Centre in R.S. Puram, Coimbatore, to provide round-the-clock maternity services. The facility aims to provide early care for the increasing number of high-risk pregnancies, which have led to a decline in normal deliveries at Corporation-run health centres.
According to the civic body, Coimbatore city records 24,000 to 25,000 child births annually. The 32 urban primary health centres (UPHCs) under its administration each have only one doctor, and during night hours, only one nurse is available. This has limited maternity care services, forcing many economically disadvantaged families to rely on the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital for deliveries.
The proposed centre will have five dedicated doctors, two paediatricians (on-call), ten nurses, three laboratory technicians, and six medical staff, in addition to the three maternity specialists already serving under the Corporation. Medical equipment, hospital beds, medicines, and emergency communication facilities will be procured at an estimated cost of ₹1.5 crore. The initiative aims to improve maternity care accessibility for low-income families in urban areas.
City Health Officer A. Mohan said that while UPHCs currently handled around 30 to 35 deliveries a month, the number used to be around 50. “High-risk cases are increasing, and UPHCs generally refer such cases to government hospitals even for consultation and early care. To decongest the government hospital and improve convenience for the public, a model centre dedicated to provide care for high-risk pregnancies will be established. Based on its performance, there are plans to set up similar centres in each of the city’s five zones. A detailed study will be conducted in consultation with senior gynaecologists and experts before finalising the plan,” he said.
He also mentioned that a 3,000 sq. ft. dialysis centre planned at the Seethalakshmi health centre was expected to be ready within a month. The Hindu