SAMBALPUR: Though more than two and a half years have passed since the State Government signed an MoU with HLL Lifecare Limited, a Government of India undertaking, to set up MRI scan machine at VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla on a PPP mode, there has been no progress in this regard.
The MoU was signed on June 25, 2012 with an objective to provide MRI scanning to patients at low cost. While VIMSAR was to provide the required space for installation of the machine, HLL was to operate canteen, medicine outlet and other utilities on the institute premises. But, when there was no sign of setting up the machine after more than two and a half years, the VIMSAR authorities moved the Union Health Ministry for procurement of the machine under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) for convenience of the patients.
Director of VIMSAR Sunamali Bag said a super speciality wing is being developed at the institute at a cost of `150 crore under PMSSY and fund for the purpose has already been sanctioned. “Five new streams of medicine comprising Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Clinical Haematology, Plastic Surgery and Pediatric Surgery will be introduced in the institute while disciplines of Nephrology, Urology, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Cardiology will be upgraded,” he said. The super specialty block will have 60 ICU beds besides 180 general beds for the patients.
He said they have requested the Ministry to procure an MRI machine from the sanctioned fund and hoped that the proposal would be accepted and the machine installed at VIMSAR soon.
“While `80 crore will be spent on construction of the super specialty building, the rest will be used for procurement of equipment and the share of the Union Government and State Government will be 70:30,” he added.
Meanwhile, the canteen being managed by HLL was reportedly closed down after running following accusation of poor quality of food. While some selected medicines are available in the medicine outlet, there is no sign of the commitment to provide safe drinking water and other facilities like mobile recharge, photocopy and courier services.