Functioning of BBMP multi-specialty hospitals comes to stop over incomplete works

BENGALURU: A multi-specialty hospital of the BBMP in Govindaraja Nagar, which was inaugurated ahead of the Assembly election, has remained nonfunctional ever since. The hospital was operational for only about a week after it was inaugurated by then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

The multi-specialty hospital was the dream project of former minister V Somanna and was built for the benefit of the poor at a cost of Rs 50 crore at Pantharapalya in Govindaraja Nagar. The hospital, named after Dr Puneeth Rajkumar, is now not offering any health services.

The Dr Puneeth Rajkumar multi-specialty hospital was inaugurated ahead of the Assembly election.

Another BBMP multi-speciality hospital, the Adichunchanagiri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Multi-speciality Hospital in MC Layout at Agrahara in Dasarahalli,  is also in the same situation. Even after four months since its opening, people are able to avail medical services. The locals are unhappy with the government and the BBMP for their lack of concern for poor patients.

The Adichunchanagiri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji Multi-speciality Hospital, is a 300-bed hi-tech hospital and was inaugurated on February 16. The four-storeyed hospital, including the ground floor, has all the equipment, but not a single doctor has been posted at the hospital. At present, only three doctors are providing treatment in the outpatient department (OPD).

Locals are raising questions about why the government, after spending crores of rupees on the hospital, had to inaugurate it even though civil works were pending.

Nagabhushan, a local resident, said the multi-specialty hospitals are supposed to be available for poor people, but medical services are not available because of incomplete work. “The hospitals provides treatment only for common ailments like viral fever, cough and cold. The previous MLA inaugurated the hospital during his term, but nothing happened after that. Now, a new minister has come to power, let’s see what he does about this”.

Another local, Ram, rued, “It was inaugurated before the election as the Model Code of Conduct was to come into effect. Though it is a multi-specialty hospital, treatment is available for only small illnesses. The hospital was set up with all equipment, but there is no permanent doctor appointed here. Everything was done in a hurry”.