Feasibility report on upgradation of Nakodar civil hospital rejected

NAKODAR: The Punjab government has not accepted feasibility report prepared by the health and family welfare department to upgrade Nakodar civil hospital from existing 50 beds to 100 beds.

In a reply under the Right to Information Act, public information officer of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHHC) said ` 6.9 crore were sanctioned in 2013-2014 under the incentive grant-in aid scheme to upgrade the sub-divisional hospital Nakodar. A proposal has been made to demolish the old building of the family planning unit and construct a new three-storey building. It was further said the design of the new building has been submitted to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for approval as it is adjacent to the historic Nakodar tombs, the protected monuments, which is pending.

PHSC sub-divisional officer (SDO) Ravinder Singh said a 30-bed mother-child hospital, under a central government scheme, would be constructed at Nakodar civil hospital with two-three independent operation theatres. He said that old building would be renovated. He said that MCH’s have been constructed at other sub divisions in the state.

The health and Family welfare department in its feasibility report prepared on High Court’s directions had said that 58 new medical and non-medical posts had to be created for upgrading the civil hospital from existing 50 beds to 100 beds. In a reply under the Right to Information Act, the director health and family welfare said in 2014 that a proposal in this regard was sent to the principal secretary health.

The high court had directed the authorities concerned to prepare a feasibility report on the hospital’s upgradation while disposing a civil writ petition filed by social activist Aditya Bhatara. Bhatara said he will approach the high court for implementation of the feasibility report on the hospital upgradation.