Niloufer’s new block: powerless to be born

With no funds for electricity, the Natco-funded building remains inoperational at the hospital

It could, but it cannot – at least not for now.

The brand new three-storied building could spell relief to the nearly 1,400 mothers and infants visiting the cramped outpatient block at State-run Niloufer Hospital every day.

However, with funds being delayed, the hospital block is far from becoming operational.

Aimed at providing outpatient facilities, laboratory support, pharmacy and operation theatres, apart from a swanky auditorium, the construction of the building was funded by Natco Pharma, and has come up within the Niloufer Hospital premises.

However, the hospital management is struggling to shore up funds so that power can be supplied to the new building.

Inaugurated last week

In fact, health authorities and Natco officials participated in a formal ceremony to ‘officially’ inaugurate the facility last Wednesday, it being an ‘auspicious’ day.

Senior doctors are hoping that very soon – once the final touches to the building are over and power is supplied – the outpatient facilities would be shifted from the old building to the new facility.

While Natco incurred crores to construct the building, the hospital management has been unable to muster up Rs.15 lakh to set up a transformer needed for electricity in the new building. Senior doctors familiar with the project said the new building was to have been thrown open last November but for the lack of funds.

“We approached power officials for setting up a transformer, which would cost us Rs.15 lakh. They made it clear that we should first clear the arrears of power bills, which have accrued to Rs.1 crore over last few months. We are in a fix due because of the elections and the bifurcation process,” they said. However, the hospital has been saved the trouble of facing powers cuts, they added.