STANDSTILL: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases on Hosur Road in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Bangalore: The proposed Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, coming up as part of the SDS Tuberculosis Sanatorium on Hosur Road here, has created a record of sorts. The building, which was commissioned to provide better facilities to the large number of poor tuberculosis and chest diseases patients in the State, has been under construction for almost 13 years.

The 470-bed teaching hospital, which is attached to the Bangalore Medical College, was renamed SDS Tuberculosis and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in 1993 after the then Veerappa Moily-led Government gave the go-ahead for the institute.

The successive Congress governments have made no attempt for completion of the health centre.

Work on the institute has come to a standstill, and Medical Education Department authorities cite lack of funds as the reason for the failure to get the institute started.

The High Court Committee constituted for improvement of 16 government/autonomous hospitals in Bangalore city has in its report suggested that the Government should expedite work on the proposed institute and allocations should be made to get it running for the benefit of the people.

It has asked the authorities to make at least the first two floors of the building functional so that important facilities such as the chest injury unit could be opened.

Even though the report was submitted in September last year, no steps have been taken by the Government to implement the recommendations made by the committee.

The report says, "once the new block comes up the chest injury unit should be organised by providing Rs. 3.95 crore for various infrastructure including central supply and sterilisation department, ambulance with equipment, medical and surgery intensive care units and Sleep Apnoea Lab.

Approximately Rs. 2 crore more may be allotted for the extra staff and equipment."

The report has also recommended upgrading of laboratory services and the out-patient department reception area.

The new block would help to clear the rush in the existing sanatorium building which is not adequate to handle all the patients as some areas in the hospital are cramped, say hospital authorities.

"This year we have released Rs. 50 lakh so that work on the building can be continued," Director of Medical Education Ramananda Shetty told The Hindu.

But according to Medical Education Department officials, at least Rs. 5 crore is needed for completion of the institute and for the necessary equipment.

Apart from the delay in the construction of the new building, there are other woes. The SDS TB Sanatorium has an ambulance, but no driver. The driver's post has not been sanctioned despite repeated requests by the hospital authorities.

Presently, a driver is working on "on office duty" basis. Moreover, there is a lack of paramedical staff and the hospital has a shortage of at least 60 nurses. One assistant professor and two lecturer posts are vacant.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail