Times of India
29 April 2009
Snehal Sonawane Sawant
Pune, India

Medical Body, PMC Sitting On Agreement For Six Years
Exactly six years ago, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) signed an agreement with the Aundh Institute of Medical Sciences to establish a multi–specialty hospital in Aundh on 6,719 sq.mt. land. The plan, however, is yet to see the light of the day.

While the Aundh area is in dire need for such a hospital which can provide special medical services to low income groups at concessional rates – both the parties have remained lackadaisical in implementing the project.

The agreement, which was signed on November 27, 2003 states that “The corporation has decided to have and establish a multiSpecialty hospital consisting of cardiac cathlab, ICU, ICCU, trauma care, orthopaedic, laproscopy, general medicines, OPD, operation theatre, blood bank, its establishment, conduct, administration, maintenance and all allied matters on the said plot, jointly with the institute as per the resolution passed in General Body meeting of the corporation dated June 20, 2003.” TOI has in its possession a copy of the agreement.

While the period of the agreement is 29 years, six years have already passed by without any work having begun on the project at all. A municipal maternity home – Aundh Kuti Rugnalay – with only basic facilities is currently located on the land.

The agreement states that a cardiac cath lab, 32 bedded ICU and ICCU, 100 multi–Specialty beds (trauma care, orthopaedic, general medicine, general surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics) will be established in the first phase; cardiac operation theatre, blood bank, 78 multi–specialty beds and laproscopy centre will be established in the second phase and neuro operation theatre and infertility centre in the third phase.

When contacted, former mayor Datta Gaikwad, who is on the board of the institute, admitted that there has been inordinate delay in setting up the hospital. “There were some unforeseen technical snags due to which the project got delayed. But we have all intentions to begin the first phase very soon as the plans have been submitted to the PMC for sanctioning. Demarcation of land and following up with civic officials was time–consuming,” Gaikwad said.

PMC health department acting chief R R Pardeshi said that a letter has been issued to the medical institute to initiate the project plan. “We will have rigorous correspondence with the institute to expedite the project work. We are aware that it is necessary to start the hospital as early as possible,” Pardeshi said.

Residents of Aundh area and members of local mohalla committee have time and again been raising the hospital issue with the civic authorities as well as with Gaikwad, who is the former corporator of the area.

“It is such a wonderful project, which residents of the area, particularly low income groups, desperately need. Nobody tells us clearly as to why the plan has been delayed. The Aundh Kuti Rugnalay is so ill–equipped that even those cases, which have complications in delivery, are sent to far off hospitals like Sassoon,” a local resident said.