Cuttack: Expansion of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP), also known as Sishu Bhawan, has hit roadblocks as the newly constructed building is yet to be dedicated to the public, thanks to shortage of manpower.
Sources said the construction of the seven-storied building, involving an expenditure of more than Rs 127 crore, was completed in 2023 following which the Works department handed over the facility to the hospital authorities. However, it is yet to provide services due to lack of staff, they added.
Keeping in view, the crucial role played by Sishu Bhawan in treatment of children, the previous government had drawn bigger plans for renovation and modification of the facility.
However, the new building remaining inoperative since last one year, despite its completion, has raised several questions over the efficacy of the administration. Orissa POST tried to elicit the response of Sishu Bhawan Superintendent Pardeep Kumar Jena, but to no avail.
According to sources, Sishu Bhawan expansion project started in February 2020 with an expenditure of Rs 127.35 crore, aims to have more number of medical wards, hostels for medical students and other departments.
Currently, two OPDs are functional at the hospital, of which one is dedicated to Surgery department while the other one is a normal OPD. The ground floor of the multi-utility complex is constructed on 3,682-sqft area, which will facilitate 10 new OPDs, along with four super-specialty OPDs. This apart, 47 casualty beds and one minor operation theatre (OT) will be available for the general patients on the ground floor.
The first floor with 3,022-sqft area will have 110 beds. The second floor will have all the important units, constructed in 3,470-sqft area. This will facilitate 30 beds dedicated to high dependency unit (HDU), 15 beds for pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), 40 for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and 11 for kangaroo mother care unit (KMCU). Similarly, six beds have been dedicated to feeding room while 60 beds are reserved for medicine ward.
The fifth and sixth floor of the new building will be used for administrative purpose.
A conference room, seminar hall and training hall will also be situated in the sixth floor. Similarly, the third floor will have 300 beds for the newborn unit, while 92 beds are reserved for restroom for mothers. Likewise, 22 beds will be allocated for KMCU. The fourth floor will have 40 pediatric surgery wards and three OTs.
For the construction of the new hostel, 4,974-sqft of area will be used for 124 rooms, out of which 50 will be for female, as many for male medical students and 24 for married doctors.
PNN