Last week, after a meeting between the hospital's trustees and the health department, the trustees agreed to permit the civic corporation to use the facilities in the hospital, stating that it received a comparatively less number of patients. The BMC has agreed to pay Rs 80 per bed per day for using the wards, which are slated to startfunctioning in the first week of October. Three cottages inside the hospital premises will also function as paid wards.

Health committee chairperson Sardar Tara Singh informed that the doctors and staff members will be given special training in handling the patients. At present, the BMC pays the hospital for 30 beds at the rate of Rs 35 per day for patients suffering from various ailments. Ten years ago, the BMC had an understanding with the hospital whereby it had reserved about 400 beds. However, as most of the patients could be accommodated at the Rajawadi municipal hospital, the BMC gradually reduced the number of beds to 30 last year.