It's more than a year since it was inaugurated, but Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Centre in Jogeshwari is yet to become fully operational. The 304-bed hospital was opened in October 2013 by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.
According to information made available by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), it has so far managed to make available only 188 beds. The corporation has also not been able to initiate services in neuro surgery ward, dialysis centre, ICU department (medical intensive care unit, surgical intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit and intensive palliative care unit with a strength of 41 beds) and burns ward. Among the equipment it is supposed to instal, important machines like CT scan and MRI scan are yet to be commissioned.
"All of us respected late Balasaheb. But the party he founded has not been serious about providing health care services despite ruling the corporation for these many years. The hospital has not become fully operation despite having been inaugurated a year ago. This is a big letdown for the general public. This shows that inaugurations were carried out in view of the impending 2014 Lok Sabha and assembly elections," opposition leader Devendra Amberkar said.
Amberkar pointed out that Sena president had asked the municipal administration to ensure that the hospital was made fully operational within a month after it was inaugurated. "But the civic administration has not taken his words seriously. What is the BMC doing with health care facilities while diseases like dengue are raging?" Amberkar asked.
While standing committee chairman Yashodhar Phanase was unavailable for comment, House leader Trushna Vishwasrao said the matter has already been discussed with additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh. "We have raised the issue with Deshmukh. The sections concerned will be commissioned soon," Vishwasrao said.
However, on being asked whether any deadline had been set for this, Vishwasrao was evasive. "We will discuss it during the group leader's meet this week and set things on track," she said.
14-15 lakh to benefit
BMC built the hospital to cater to an estimated population of 14 to 15 lakh in the western suburbs.
Total built up area: 1,80,250 sq ft
Total expenses: Rs 125 crore.
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