SHILLONG: The Health Department is in a fix over the specification of the newly constructed TB (tuberculosis) hospital at Umsawli, which may delay the construction of Shillong Medical College and Hospital proposed to come up in Jhalupara where Reid Provincial Chest Hospital stands.
Confirmed sources said the physical structure of the new hospital at Umsawli is almost complete but it is not as per the strict specifications required for a centre treating tuberculosis.
Now, it depends on policymakers to make the necessary adjustment in the new hospital as it would require additional funds.
Apparently, patients at the existing TB hospital in Jhalupara cannot be shifted to the Umsawli hospital until the adjustment is done.
Earlier, Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek had also conducted an inspection of the new TB hospital and he even admitted that he was not happy with the proposal to shift Reid Provincial.
It is also learnt that the department has received a representation from the patients of the Jhalupara TB Hospital who lamented that the new hospital would be too far for them.
It is said that water supply, electricity, approach road were still not done besides other minor works.
On the other hand, the proposed Shillong Medical College site at Jhalupara on a 23.8 acre plot would house over 500 beds and cater to over 200,000 patients every year and to make way for the proposed hospital, the State Government had decided to shift the Reid Chest (TB) Hospital to Umsawli.
