New building ready, but leaves a lot to be desired

The new building of the Isolation Hospital remains under lock and key, even 10 months after it was formally handed over by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to the Department of health and family welfare.

The new building was constructed by the BMRCL for the hospital near Swami Vivekananda Metro station, after they occupied a part of the Hospital premises for the construction of Namma Metro lines and station. But, it remains unfit for occupation. With

14 essential works - including power and water supply- remaining incomplete, the hospital continues to function from the old building.

In an official letter to the hospital on May 10, 2014, BMRCL conveyed that the hospital construction had been done from their end. However, essential works including power supply and water connections were not complete when the building was handed over.
According to an official with the Department of health and family welfare, it was after repeated requests from the hospital that Rs 25 lakh was provided to the Karnataka Health System Development and Reform Project for the remaining work to be completed. However, the work remains incomplete.

The new building also has no telephone lines and power points to provide hot water facilities for in-patients.

No board

The entrance to the hospital has no board that a State-run hospital ought to have. No approach road has been built for vehicles to reach the new building. The path to the old building is not even and is full of weeds with no lighting facility.

The operation theatre built in the new building does not have enough doors and has windows at inappropriate places, said sources. Sources in the Department of health and family welfare claimed that it was lack of communication between the hospital authorities and the constructors that led to the shortcomings.

According to senior doctors, the tetanus ward must not only be sound proof but also have minimal or no light. But the rule has been violated.

“The place should be devoid of any noise or sound, failing which patients with tetanus become restless,” said a senior doctor who was working with the hospital.

This hospital is best known for treating rabies patients from far and wide. But there is no dedicated rabies ward in the new building. Also, in a hospital that sees most patients receiving palliative care, no mortuary has been constructed.