AP hospital works going at very slow pace

Vijayawada : The construction of the 240-bedded Government Super Speciality Hospital (GSSH), taken up at a cost of Rs 150 crore in the city is going on at a snail's pace.

The works of the hospital, which caters to the needs of patients in the four districts of  Krishna, Guntur, West Godavari and Prakasam, were initiated under the Pradhana Mantri Swastha Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, with the central government share of Rs 120 crore and the state to bear the remaining Rs 30 crore.

The works of the hospital, as per schedule, should be completed by September, 2017 but the authorities told this correspondent that it would take another 2-3 months. The staff and doctors for the hospital have not been allotted yet.

The government super speciality hospital will provide services on part with the corporate hospitals, with latest infrastructure being provided in the wards.

At present, the new government hospital is serving the patients through 12 medical departments only. After completion of the GSSH, many wings including cardiology, neuro surgery, neurology, gastroenterology, cardiothoracic, paediatric, urology, nephrology, critical care and emergency super speciality, each with 20 beds, along with AXC, XCE, RSU section, having 50 beds, will be made available to the patients. The plastic surgery, surgical gastroenterology and cardiothoracic surgery have also been shifted to the new block.

The GSSH would need 100 doctors, 200 staff nurses and 60 paramedical staff but the government has not yet begun the interviews for the posts, which would likely be an obstacle for the inauguration of the hospital.

"The super specialty hospital is being constructed at a cost of Rs 150 crore of which Rs 80 crore would be spent on construction of the building, including the land, and Rs 60 crore for the equipment and another Rs 10 crore for the equipped medical ward," said Dr G. Chakradhar Rao, superintendent. "Proposals were sent in June, 2017, regarding the requirement of staff and doctors but there has been no reply so far,"  he added.

 "Soon after the completion of construction, equipment will be installed in the hospital," said Dr R. Sasank, nodal officer, GSSH. "The construction got delayed due to some problem in clearances," said Mallaiah, general manager, KVM Constructions.