Whos delaying super specialty hospital?

BANGALORE: Despite the Centre releasing funds on time for the construction of building and purchase of equipment, the much-awaited super specialty hospital on Victoria Hospital premises is still not functional.The project, taken up under Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), is allegedly being delayed by the State government, as the Department of Medical Education has still not appointed technicians and anaesthetists for the hospital.Sources said though the shortlisted candidates’ list has been sent to the department for approval, there is no response.“Though the Central Government’s funds were released on time, due to the absence of technicians and anaesthetist, the hospital is not functional.It was supposed to be inaugurated in January but is still being delayed,” added the sources.The new five-storey building with 200 beds comprises specialties including urology, neurosurgery, plastic, paediatric surgery, cardiology and surgical gastroenterology.Also, a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory is being set up under the same roof so that patients can get test reports in a day.Under the Prime Minister Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 13 institutions from across the country were shortlisted for the upgradation on the lines of AIIMS .Under the phase 1, Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) was among the selected institutions.However, promising the immediate appointment of anaesthetists, technicians and nurses for the super speciality hospital, Medical Education Secretary Gopalkrishna Gowda said that the department will ensure that the building starts functioning by next month.“We have received the shortlisted candidates’ list and the department will soon make necessary appointments,” he said