Nagpur: Govt cancer hospital at GMCH meets premature death

NAGPUR: The mega project of the first fully government-run cancer hospital in Vidarbha, that had received administrative approval worth Rs76 crore in 2019, has been scrapped.
Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA), the authority that had floated tenders for the construction of this hospital’s building, has decided to stop the project because the state’s medical education and research department has failed to provide the initial funds of Rs20 crore as promised.
NMRDA’s superintending engineer Leena Upadhyay said the project is no more viable. “We sought funds from the state government for three years to start the construction of a cancer hospital in GMCH Nagpur. The state had given us a written guarantee of funds, after which we floated tenders for construction. But no funds were allotted even after the tender process was completed,” said Upadhyay.
She added, “We have informed the department concerned that NMRDA cannot continue work on this project.”
The proposed cancer hospital in GMCH premises was one of the most important public health projects for Vidarbha and central India. It was proposed to be constructed in a three-storey building with 110 beds.
Radiation oncology, medicine oncology, surgery oncology and paediatric oncology outpatient departments (OPDs) and daycare centre were planned at the first floor. The surgical and medical intensive care units and four operation theatres were planned on the second floor, and the general ward, medicine ward and surgical wards on the third floor.
A senior official from the department of medical education and research said, “NMRDA has informed us that they are not able to continue this project for different reasons. The department will complete it through a different nodal agency in the future.”
CHRONOLOGY
2012: Cancer patients’ agitation made then govt declare cancer hospital in Nagpur during winter session
2017: PIL filed, court directed that a cancer hospital be set up within two years
2019: Government gave administrative approval of Rs76 crore for construction and Rs23 crore for equipment purchase
2021: NMRDA invited tenders and sought Rs20 crore from medical education department for first phase
2022: NMRDA refuses to continue with project as no funds were sanctioned despite repeated requests and reminders