The district health department has roped in Karnataka's Manipal Hospital Group for converting the Dhanchatani Primary Health Centre, located on the outskirts of the city about 4km away from Telco, into a hospital.

The government primary health centre, built at a cost of around Rs 5crore three years ago, is yet to be inaugurated.

Health department officials said after elaborate discussions with Manipal Hospital Group, they plan to start the hospital in the next three months.

A section of local residents led by Congress's Kolhan spokesperson Jammi Bhaskar had recently approached health minister Banna Gupta and East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar demanding the inauguration of the hospital at the primary health centre.

"We initiated steps so that a hospital could be started at the health centre which has the necessary infrastructure. It will immensely help local people who can get better health care facilities," said Bhaskar.

District civil surgeon A.K. Lal said, "A team of the health department led by me and a representative of Manipal Hospital inspected the primary health centre on Monday and examined the possibilities of starting it as a full-fledged hospital."

He said that during the inspection, the team went around the approach road and took stock of electricity, water, ambulance service and other necessary facilities.

Health department sources said a meeting with Manipal Hospital authorities on the hospital project has been scheduled for next month.