Collector A. Sivagnanam launching the battery operated vehicle in the Government Hospital in Virudhunagar on Friday. | Photo Credit: Handout more-in VIRUDHUNAGAR Dedicating two battery operated cars at the government headquarters hospital here exclusively for patients’ use, Collector A. Sivagnanam said on Friday that public, particularly elders who could not walk and or were seriously ill, could use the facility. The battery cars, purchased at a cost of about ?10 lakh would be available for public use on the Government Hospital campus on Ramamurthy Road. After taking a ride on the car with officials, Mr. Sivagnanam told reporters that the Roots Industry India Limited (Electrical Division) had designed the two vehicles. The highlight is that in one of the cars, the stretcher could be attached. In all, 10 people can travel at a time in both the cars and can also carry a maximum of 200 kg of goods by the patients. On an average, the GH received a little over 1000 persons daily, which included outpatients and visitors, officials said. Welcoming the facility, patients visiting the GH said that it would be easy for them to be mobile within the campus. The officials explained that the battery cars would take patients right from the registration section, OP wards, maternity ward, x-ray and CT scan centre, blood bank and casualty ward swiftly. The stretcher, which could be attached with the battery car, can be used for those who are seriously ill. In Virudhunagar district, there are 11 government hospitals, 52 primary health centres and six urban PHCs. The Joint Director (Health Services) Manoharan, DD (Mines) Arumuga Nainar, Medical Superintendent Prahaladan, Resident Medical Officer Murugesan and National Health Mission Nodal Officer Sivakumar among others participated in the inaugural function. The Collector interacted with the hospital authorities and reviewed the drug stock among others, officials said.

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