RAJSHAHI, May 17: The construction of 200-bed specialised Rajshahi Child Hospital was completed over one year back.
But the hospital is yet to be handed over by Public Works Department (PWD).
After the construction, the hospital was inaugurated on January 29, 2023. But after over one year, its activities didn start.
According to field sources, operational activities are delayed as necessary manpower and medical equipment were not provided.
PWD officials said, they did not get any instructions about to which institution they will hand over the hospital.
Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) is hiccupping to handle child patients of at least 20 districts in Rajshahi; child patients are treated in three wards of RMCH; and at least three child patients are treated in a bed.
Earlier, there were government quarters in the newly built child hospital. According to the decision of the Health Ministry, these were demolished to establish the hospital.
PWD started the construction in May, 2015. But, in the beginning, a complication was created about the design.
Firstly it was planned to construct 10-storey Bhaban of 16,000 square feet; later on, it was reduced to four-storey with 27,000 square feet area.
The construction work was supposed to be completed by June, 2018. But the construction was extended up to December, 2019. The work was not completed within that time. Later on, the time was extended till June, 2020 and again till December 2021.
After ending the latest time, the construction was completed one year back.
At the first time, the construction cost was about Tk 13 crore. But due to frequent time extension, the construction cost was adjusted to about Tk 34 crore.
The 19,000 square feet first floor included 14-bed general observation unit, two x-ray rooms and one each room of CT Scan and MRI, and eight store rooms.
There is a 20-car parking arrangement in the ground floor.
The 20,225 square feet second floor included one minor Operation Theatre (OT) and four specialised OTs, 10-bed pre- and post-OT and 50-bed ICU. The fourth floor includes 96-bed General Ward and 18 paying beds.
There will be Outdoor facility in the hospital.
The third floor included 18 rooms for physicians, canteen, lab and office bloc.
According to PWD statistics, the structure construction was made at about Tk 23 crore; generator and sub-station construction were made at about Tk 2 crore; electric fan, AC, solar panel, and fire-extinguisher cost stood at about Tk 1.5 crore; sub-station and underground water reservoir were constructed at about Tk 1 crore; two lifts were purchased at about Tk 2 crore; oxygen supply line setting up has been made at about Tk 2 crore; only boundary grill setting up is remaining.
PWD sources said, in fear of stealing away, the contractor is not setting up the grills.
Sub-Divisional Engineer of PWD-2-Rajshahi Rabiul Islam Khan who was in-charge of supervising, said, "We don know who will take up the hospital, RMCH, Civil Surgeon (CS) office or Divisional Health Department; in other cases, officials concerned of particular departments ask us to complete construction works rapidly. But in the case of the child hospital, we are getting no response. We discussed the issue with Health Department officials for taking up the hospital. But they are not responding."
CS Dr Abu Sayed Md Faruq is Member Secretary of the hospital implementation committee. He said, "After completion of the construction, the PWD is supposed to inform us in letter. But they are yet to inform us."
About the letter of information, Rabiul Islam Khan said, "The construction is a current process; till the day of handing over it remains under our supervision; it remains some sorts of works for gradually finishing; that is why the letter was not sent; yet it has been verbally informed to the Health Department about completion of the work."
Divisional Health Director Dr Anwarul Kabir said, "It needs manpower and medical equipment to start the hospital. We have informed the Health Department for more than one time. But we are yet to get any instruction. That is why we can take any step."
Additional Director General of the Health Department Dr Ahmedul Kabir said, "Maybe we will provide manpower, but the ministry will have to give medical equipment. This is why there is a matter of processing. We will discuss the issues.
