Two operation theatres at Bone and Joint Hospital continue to run from a flood-ravaged “unsafe building”, while a World Bank-funded proposal to set up new facility hasn’t seen any progress for the past three years.
Documents accessed by Greater Kashmir reveal that a fresh assessment by Roads and Buildings department last year declared the existing building “unsafe and dangerous if put to use”.
“Doctors who operate from the two theatres often complain about wobbly floor,” said an official at the hospital. “Many of our doctors have told administration categorically that they are not able to focus on surgeries as the theatres vibrate during procedures”.
A recent communication from authorities at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar to Chief Engineer R&B confirmed the apprehensions of doctors. “Doctors are fearful that the building may collapse anytime,” the letter dated October 9 reads.
After floods devastated Bone and Joint and many other hospitals in Srinagar, World Bank allocated Rs 140 crore under Jhelum Recovery Project to GMC Srinagar’s hospitals.
The assistance was meant for a new block at Lal Ded, a new building at SMHS and another building at Bone and Joint Hospital.
However, there has been no progress on the project at Bone and Joint Hospital, putting lives of patients, doctors and staff at risk.
Although, four theatres were shifted out of the building to a new one in the vicinity, the hospital administration has failed to alleviate fears of staff and patients there and continues to use the dilapidated structure to run two remaining operation theatres from the unsafe building.
Medical superintendent Bone and Joint Hospital said there was “no alternative available”.
“Whatever space is available to us, we are using it to the optimum,” he said.
Principal GMC Srinagar, Prof Samia Rashid said that the medical college was in touch with the authorities and a World Bank team was set to visit the hospitals in coming week. She added that the project suffered delay due to lack of response to tenders invited for construction of new building.
“We are quite hopeful that the project will take off soon now as all the basic requirements are almost complete” she said.