SHILLONG: Equipment and machines worth Rs.1.5 crore are lying idle at the trauma and accident centre at Nongpoh Civil Hospital for the past 11 years.
The NEC had sanctioned the amount way back in 2003-04.
This was revealed during an inspection conducted by the Estimates Committee of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly at Nongpoh on Friday.
The Committee will also carry out visits to trauma centres at Jowai and Tura as NEC had sanctioned Rs.80 lakh each for the construction of the same.
Member of the Estimates Committee, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, during a press conference on Friday, said the building meant for setting up of trauma and accident centre was being used by the District Medical & Health Officer, Ri Bhoi, since 2010 while equipments including X-ray machines and ventilators had been dumped in a room.
When contacted, another member of the Committee, Jemino Mawthoh, said the Committee has suggested that the office of the DMHO should be shifted from the present site in the Civil Hospital so that the trauma and accident centre can become functional.
“This is very shocking as the equipments are not functioning since the year 2004,” he said, adding that the office of DMHO should be immediately shifted.
The Committee, under the chairmanship of D.D. Lapang, along with members – Jemino Mawthoh, Ronnie Lyngdoh, Nihim D Shira and Witting Mawsor – also visited Umsning CHC and found that the X-ray machine has not been functioning there since 2005.
The Committee found that the machine was bought in 2000 and had been repaired the same year. Later, the radiographer was transferred from the CHC.
“We were told that the X-ray machine was used till 2005,” Mawthoh said, while adding that the doctors informed the Committee that they used to send the patients to Shillong whenever any patient came to them for X-ray, which, according to the committee was causing undue hardships to the poor patients as they have to travel all the way to Shillong spending lot of money.
During the inspection, Chairman of the Committee D.D. Lapang gave 10 days’ time to the CHC to rectify all the errors in the X-ray machine.
“The committee wants to present this as a Christmas gift to the people,” Mawthoh said.
The Committee would shortly visit Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills for spot inspection to assess the functioning of various departments.
Rs 13 crore lying idle with NEC
Ronnie Lyngdoh further said that Rs.13 core has been lying idle with NEC meant for setting up of an operation theatre at Ganesh Das Hospital, Shillong and establishment of a mother and child hospital at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills.
Rs.4 crore meant for the OT at Ganesh Das Hospital and Rs.9 crore for the hospital at Khliehriat has been lying idle with the NEC due to the failure of the State Health department to submit DPRs for the same, Lyngdoh informed.
Infertility centre non- starter
In another case of negligence, the Government sanctioned Rs.2.20 crore to set up an infertility centre at Ganesh Das Hospital and tender was called for the same in 2013. Following this, work order was also issued to one Samba Medicals.
According to Lyngdoh, strangely, the Health department has asked the firm not to start the work.