Cancer hospital misses deadline, awaits staff

The Homi Bhabha Cancer Super-Specialty Hospital being set up here has missed the deadline announced by the state government as much work still needs to be done. Although the management has started the outpatient department (OPD) with two doctors, the required staff members have not yet joined.

The Homi Bhabha Cancer Super-Specialty Hospital being set up here has missed the deadline announced by the state government as much work still needs to be done. Although the management has started the outpatient department (OPD) with two doctors, the required staff members have not yet joined.

As soon as the government’s announced that the hospital would be made operation by the third week of January, patients from the cancer-hit Malwa belt rushed to the hospital, where workers were still busy giving final touches even though the centre was sanctioned almost two years ago. Dr Sumit Gupta, a surgeon, said, “We examine about 20 patients every day. More doctors are about to join soon to make the operation theatre functional.”

Fifty posts, including six super-specialists, six resident doctors, seven nurses and 20 paramedical staff, was created to run the 50-bed cancer facility. But as of now only five, including two super-specialists, can be seen in on the second floor of the hospital. Installation of equipment is also incomplete. Due to the lack of space, the operation theatre has been constructed inside the gynae ward of the civil hospital, in a different compound.

When contacted T Anbumani, a functionary of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) — under the department of atomic energy — in Mumbai, who has been made in-charge of the Sangrur facility said, “Some staff members have joined, the remaining are likely to join in a month.”