Patna: The 200-bed Multi-Super Speciality Hospital at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) continues to await completion even after around eight years, with several crucial construction and technical works still pending. The prolonged delay has also kept expensive medical equipment from being installed and put into use.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has taken action against CK Construction, the agency responsible for the delayed construction work. The agency has been blacklisted and removed from the project, while the remaining work has been handed over to a new agency.
PMCH Principal Dr Geeta Sinha said a meeting between CPWD and CK Construction was held last month. Following the continued delay, the construction agency was replaced and the new agency has been given a target to complete the pending work by November.
Rs 200 Crore Project Still Awaiting Completion
The hospital is being constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) at a cost of around Rs 200 crore. The planned facility has 200 beds and is intended to strengthen specialised healthcare services at PMCH.
Although the G+7 building appears largely complete from the outside, several important works inside the facility remain unfinished. These include internal finishing, the HVAC system, Building Management System (BMS), medical gas pipeline, electrical backup and other technical installations.
According to the hospital administration, work on the remaining finishing and technical components is now being accelerated after the change in agency.
Medical Equipment Worth Rs 6.42 Crore Lying Unused
The construction delay has also affected equipment purchased for the hospital. The administration said modern medical equipment worth approximately Rs 6.42 crore has already been procured for treating patients with serious illnesses.
However, most of these machines have reportedly remained packed inside the unfinished hospital building for around one and a half years. Since the required infrastructure and technical systems are not yet ready, the equipment has not been installed.
The hospital administration has deployed 24-hour security guards to protect the equipment while it remains stored inside the facility.
Equipment’s Operational Life Raises Concern
Dr Geeta Sinha said the medical equipment had reached the hospital before the construction work was completed. As the building remained unfinished, the machines could not be installed and used.
Medical equipment has a defined operational life and requires proper installation and maintenance. The prolonged delay in commissioning the facility therefore raises concerns about the timely utilisation and upkeep of equipment purchased for specialised patient care.
The completion of the building and associated technical systems will be necessary before the machines can be installed and the hospital can move towards full operationalisation.
Foundation Stone Laid In 2019
The foundation stone for the PMCH Super Speciality Hospital building was laid in 2019. The project was expected to strengthen specialised medical services in Bihar and reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for advanced treatment.
However, the facility has still not become fully operational. With the original agency now blacklisted and replaced, the project has entered another phase, with the new agency expected to complete the remaining work by November.
For PMCH, the completion of the long-delayed facility would not only add 200 specialised beds but also allow already-purchased medical equipment to be installed and potentially expand access to advanced treatment for patients in Bihar.
