Bhubaneswar: In another significant step towards qualitative tertiary care for children, the Odisha government has enhanced bed strength of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP) at Cuttack, popularly known as Shishu Bhawan, to 846 for catering to the growing need of children being referred from different districts and other states.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling has sanctioned new 424 beds for the hospital taking the total bed strength to 846, officials said on Saturday.
It may be noted that 422 beds were available in old building of the hospital. With inauguration of new centrally air conditioned 7 storied hospital building by Union Health & Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on April 11, 2025, the bed strength has been enhanced to 846.
Corresponding to the increase in bed strength, State Government also sanctioned 59 new faculty and doctor posts in different categories. The new sanctioned posts included 5 posts of Professors, 10 posts of Associate professor, 18 posts of Assistant Professor, 24 posts of Senior residents; and, two posts of medical officers one for Blood Bank and one Drug Store.
Expressing his satisfaction over the new sanctions, Minister Mahaling said, this expansion is largest since inception of the Shishu Bhawan in 1960. This will add to developing SVPPGIP to an advanced and premier paediatric institute in eastern India, he added.
