Rajasthan biggest government run Super Specialty Centre is set to begin operations at Udaipur’s Maharana Bhupal Hospital (General Hospital).

The unit, created under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a cost of Rs 159 Crore, is nearly ready and set to commence operations.  However, paucity of staff, both medical and administrative along with a working capital requirement of Rs 15 Crore each year, is needed to commence the operations of this centre.

As per Dr Lakhan Poswal, Principal, RNT Medical College, Udaipur, the civil construction work is pending on some floors. The chief civil contractor HSCC Private Limited was supposed to have completed the work before December 2019, but will now be completed by the end of March this year.

The Super Specialty Centre is made up of a basement, ground and 7 floors.  While the work on most floors is completed, some civil work, which includes flooring and washroom construction is pending on the remaining three floors.

HSCC, on its part said that though they have presented the pending work plan to the hospital management, they do not seem to be in a hurry to commence operations due to paucity of staff and funds.

An overview of the new Super Specialty Centre at MB Hospital

Dr Lakhan informed that the Super Specialty Centre will consist of 9 departments, which include Radiotherapy, Plastic Surgery, Endocrinology, Urology, Nephrology, Neurology, Cancer Department, Gastro Intestinal Surgery and Neuro Surgery.

The Super Specialty Centre will cater to serious cases under the above departments, using the latest technology and equipment.  Dr Lakhan said that the next phase of development of the Super Specialty Centre will facilitate inhouse Organ Transplant services.

Patients requiring care under the departments that will be shifted to the Super Specialty Centre will be provided state-of-the-art treatment and facilities that they expect in a private hospital setup.

Dr Lakhan confirmed that there is paucity of staff and that the hospital management has given a written request to the relevant department in the government to allow them to create vacancies to the tune of 225 medical staff and has also requested additional funding.

Interview with Dr Lakhan Poswal

He however added, that if needed the hospital will make do the shortage of staff by channeling existing resources.  This may get the services started, but the shortage of staff and funds might not give the desired output of exemplary services as provided in the charted for the Super Specialty Centre.

While most of the equipment and furniture has been procured, but the equipment and furniture can only be installed once the civil work is completed.  Dr Lakhan said that the warranty on the equipment will begin only when the machines are installed.  Hence machines lying uninstalled will not result in loss of warranty.

The total cost of construction of the Super Specialty Centre building was around Rs 53 Crore rupees.  Office and ward furniture and equipment cost Rs 5 Crore. With the cost of machines and medical equipment, the total capital expenditure was to the tune of Rs 159 Crore.

Government should ensure that the services at the Super Specialty Centre commence as soon as possible with optimal manpower and working capital, to hand out the services and service quality promised in the charter.

The Centre is equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and fire-fighting equipment.