In 5 years, Kalwa hospital in Thane gets Rs72 crore but spends only Rs78 lakh
TMC had proposed to start a cardiology and neurology centre but these remain only on paper
The civic-run Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital, popularly known as the Kalwa hospital, has not spent even Rs1 crore on its upgradation after being allotted funds of around Rs70 crore, in the last five years.
The hospital received funds for setting up of a neurology and cardiology centre to provide services to patients; however, the funds remained unused and the services merely on paper.
In the budget estimate of 2017-18, the hospital received funds of Rs30 crore, out of which, Rs45 lakh was spent on civil renovation. The remaining funds, like every year are bound to lapse.
“In the last five years, the hospital was given crores in funds. In the year 2013-14 it received funds off Rs8 crore out of which only Rs3.10 lakh was used. In 2014-15 Rs9 crore was provided, but only Rs4.92 lakh was spent. Similarly, in 2015-16, it received funds of Rs10 crore out of which Rs5 lakh was utilised. Out of Rs15 crore provided in 2016-17, only Rs20 lakh was used. In the last budget of 2017-18, out of Rs30 crore provided, only Rs45 lakh has been used so far,” a civic official said, requesting anonymity.
Thane has two government-run hospitals, the Thane Civil Hospital of the state government and the Kalwa hospital, which is run by the corporation. The Kalwa hospital has often been in the news for lack of proper infrastructure. However, records show that there is no dearth of funds.
The municipal corporation said it would not led the funds lapse. “We will not let any of the funds lapse. We have many proposals for the hospital in the pipeline some of which I have signed in the last 10-15 days. We have increased the size of the mortuary from 14 to 50 beds while the paediatric ward too will get renovated,” said Sunil Chavan, additional municipal commissioner.
“The corporation had proposed to start a cardiology and neurology centre for which, funds of Rs10 to Rs15 crore were allocated in 2017-18. This centre was supposed to treat the poor with major heart ailments, brain and spine injuries. However, the patients have to either go to private hospitals or Mumbai hospitals. The facility is still only on paper,” a hospital employee said.
The funds allocated were also for the hospital to upgrade its department and computerise the functioning. However, this too remains on paper.
Rajeev Korde, medical superintendent of Kalwa Hospital, said the Goods and Services Tax had led to some complications. “This year owing to GST few proposals had to be sent for re-tendering. There were a few technical difficulties due to this new tax. We have filled few posts for doctors and the process is ongoing to fill more vacancies. The neurology and cardiac ward will need space, which we are trying to create, but these major projects will still take time,” he said.
The trauma care centre, the cardiac ward and the ICU which were set up four years ago are either closed or only partly functional due to lack of qualified doctors. While the hospital lacks qualified MD doctors for full-time, the Out Patient Department too has insufficient doctors.
The medical college, which started in 1992, still has no post-graduation or super-speciality courses, the employee said.
However, the corporation has set up a mammography machine to help in early detection of cancer in women.