Patna: Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH)’s 200-bed super-specialty hospital remains incomplete nearly seven years after construction began, raising concerns over delays, unused infrastructure and mounting public expenditure.
The G+7 super-specialty block, being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), has yet to become operational despite work having started in 2019.
Expensive Equipment Locked Away
Hospital officials said modern medical equipment worth crores of rupees had already been procured for the facility but could not be installed because the building had not been formally handed over.
According to officials:
- machines remain locked across ten rooms
- several units have remained packed for years
- concerns are growing over possible warranty lapses and equipment deterioration
The hospital had planned to house advanced departments including:
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Neurosurgery
- Nephrology
- Oncology
- Urology
- Endocrinology
- Critical Care
Officials said even a transplant surgeon had been posted at the institution, though no transplant procedures had been possible due to the absence of operational infrastructure.
Specialist Doctors Sitting Idle
Approximately 40 super-specialist doctors have already been appointed to the facility under state and central government procedures.
However, with the hospital yet to open, doctors reportedly remain without clinical responsibilities.
Sources within the institution said frustration was growing among specialists, with some considering leaving the hospital because of the prolonged delay.
Officials indicated that more than Rs 10 crore had already been spent on salaries for the specialists, despite the facility remaining non-functional.
PMCH Principal Blames Lack Of Coordination
PMCH principal N. P. Singh told a newspaper the main obstacle was the lack of coordination between the construction agency and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
He said:
“The level of technical infrastructure required for a super-specialty facility has not yet been fully established.”
According to Singh, multiple review meetings had been held and communications had been sent to:
- the Central Government
- the Prime Minister’s Office
- the Union Health Ministry
seeking intervention to expedite completion of the project.
He added that while explanations continued to be sought from officials connected with the PMSSY programme, no clear completion timeline had been provided at the local level.
Key Technical Work Still Pending
Although the building appears nearly complete from the outside, officials said several crucial systems remain unfinished.
Pending work includes:
- testing of the central oxygen pipeline
- commissioning of the sterilisation unit
- completion of HVAC and air-pressure systems
- final trials for high-load power backup systems
- technical clearance for ICU and operation theatre infrastructure
Construction officials maintain that core civil work is largely complete and that technical inspections are currently underway as part of the handover process.
