Vizianagaram: Three years after the foundation stone was laid, the construction of a multi-speciality hospital in the tribal area of Parvathipuram in Manyam district has not crossed 60% completion. This delay has increased the pressure on the government hospital in the district headquarters, as the district hospital at Parvathipuram alone witnesses more than 1,000 outpatients per day. The number of inpatients is around 280, while the hospital has only 150 beds.
Background of the Project
The foundation stone for the multi-speciality hospital was laid virtually six years ago during the YSRCP government with a sanctioned amount of Rs 49 crore. However, funds were not released for almost three years. Before the elections, construction work started but was halted due to non-payment of bills to the contractor. The present government has paid around Rs 9 crore in pending bills.
Current Situation
Most cases are referred to King George Hospital (KGH) or other government hospitals in Vizag, which is 140 km away from Parvathipuram. Patients are forced to travel to Vizag for severe bleeding injuries, heart-related diseases, drop in platelets, severe jaundice, cerebral malaria, and other emergencies. People are requesting the authorities to provide specialist doctors immediately and complete the multi-speciality hospital building as early as possible.
The district hospital has no specialist doctors. It only has physicians, gynaecologists, and other general practitioners. Patients with heart, kidney, and cancer symptoms are forced to go to Vizag. The district hospital urgently needs cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology, and oncology departments, as around 30 to 40 patients with these conditions come for treatment daily.
Demographics and Challenges
Parvathipuram district had a population of 9.25 lakh in the 2011 census and has now reached around 15 lakh, including an 86.59% rural population, across 2.3 lakh households in two municipalities and 930 villages. The district is dominated by tribals (STs), who make up around 34%, and scheduled castes (SCs), 13%. People in the district have access to government hospitals at Parvathipuram and Vizianagaram. For any emergency, doctors at both hospitals generally refer cases to Vizag.
“Leave the construction of a multi-speciality hospital for now. First, appoint specialist doctors in the district hospital so people can get better treatment and save public lives,” commented P Srinivasa Rao, a fruit shop owner.
Daily Patient Load
Every day, more than 300 tribals out of 1,000 outpatients visit the district hospital, which has 150 beds. However, the number of inpatients is 300, of which more than 100 are tribals. Additionally, 160 to 180 of the 300 deliveries in the hospital are tribals. According to doctors, more than 40 cases are referred to Vizag on average per month. More than 450 patients suffering from heart, kidney, gastric, cancer, and other conditions go to Vizag for treatment every year.
Official Response
The AP Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation deputy executive engineer, Prasanna Kumar, told TOI that the project should have been completed by November last year as per the schedule. Brickwork and plastering works are completed, except for one slab. There is no shortage of funds. The entire building would be completed by the end of this year, he said.
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