The plan involves setting up a new set of air-conditioning system at the hospital's two operation theatres, upgrading the pathology laboratory and X-ray facility -- to make them operational round the clock, recruitment of additional staff -- including doctors and nurses, establishment for an intensive care unit (ICU) -- to deal with emergency cases and putting in place a new set of modern equipment.

The cantonment hospital, as it is generally known, is the only major public sector health centre for the 90,000-odd residents of the Pune Camp.

S.M. Mahajan, resident medical officer of the PCB, said the hospital will acquire a range of new instruments -- including defibrillators, air sterilisers, fetal doppler machine, orthopaedic imaging equipment and latest X-ray system.

"The renovation of the maternity ward has been completed and the new physiotherapy department has started full-fledged functions. The work on improving the interior of the pathology laboratory will also be over soon," Mahajan said.

The pathology and the X-ray labs will be made operational 24 hours a day, once the new instruments are put into use. "The upgradation will take care of the growing patients' needs, till the super-speciality project gets sanction," added Mahajan.