Cancer institute sans facilities irks minister

LUCKNOW: Medical education minister Ashutosh Tandon put the Cancer Institute officials in a fix when during a review meeting on Monday morning he asked why the institute was inaugurated three months earlier when there was no facility for patients even today.

As the officials scrambled for an answer, the second question also caught them off guard. “You have seen just 481 patients since December 20 when the institute was inaugurated and referred them all. What treatment did they get?”

As the officials started pointing at the expenses incurred on the construction of the institute to make it world class, a visibly miffed Tandon raised questions over the reason behind the pending work . Officials told the minister that money for electricity connection was not utilised, work of operating theatres was incomplete and even the application for permission to construct radio therapy unity was pending. Tandon, who had arrived for a review meeting at the institute in CG city on Monday morning, heard the officials who tried to explain how the institute could become operational but doctors present in the meeting hall simply refused to start any other facility except the OPD and that too after installation of basic minimum diagnostic equipment such as an x-ray unit.

Vice chancellor of King George’s Medical University Prof MLB Bhatt, who has additional charge of the director for this institute, Prof Arun Chaturvedi, Dr HS Pahwa and others briefed the minister on how the services could be started here. “If we start the process then it will take at least two years to come up with a radio therapy facility keeping in view the process for permission and construction of the building under strict norms,” said the doctors present in the meeting.

“Get things moving in three months and at least start OPD here,” minister told officials, before leaving the campus. He later told media persons that a probe would be set up on why the institute was inaugurated when no services were being given to patients . “The previous government was in a hurry to inaugurate projects despite them not being completed,” he remarked. New director to be appointed The institute might not be under KGMU as soon it will get a new full time director. Medical education minister Ashutosh Tandon told mediapersons after the inspection that the present charge is with the vice chancellor of KGMU but soon a new director will be appointed.

He also ordered the officials to return back furniture and other things brought from KGMU for inauguration and fresh e-tender be done for new ones to be purchased for the institute. The institute has got 17 faculty members in the past one month but before that there were none.

A PROBE WOULD BE SET UP ON WHY THE HOSP WAS OPENED WHEN NO SERVICES WERE BEING GIVEN TO PATIENTS