Even after a delay of two years, the new building at SMS Hospital is far from completion

The new state-of-the-art outdoor patient department (OPD) of Sawai Man Singh hospital is still far from completion even though it was inaugurated in a hurry by former chief minister Vasundhara Raje on September 11 last year.

All the OPD and operation theatres of the SMS hospital were planned to be shifted in the new building but the project has been marred by the inordinate delay since inception. But now authorities of SMS hospital have once again given February 28 as the new date for the OPD to become operational.

"Civil work has been completed in the new OPD building. Some furniture and other equipment are needed to fitted in the building. If everything goes according to the plan we will start new OPD before February28," Dr Narpat Singh Shekhawat, superintendent of SMS hospital said.

But according to sources, the work in the new building is far from completion. "Even after the delay of around two years the new OPD building is still not ready. The floor work and furniture are still incomplete in the building," a hospital source said.

All the operation theatre and OPD section of the hospital was planned to be shifted in the new building at the cost of around Rs20 crore. The chambers of the doctors in the new building are computerised and connected with the central lab of the hospital so that the patients do not have to run from pillar to post for treatment.

The entry of the new OPD building is also at the connecting road of Tonk Road and JLN Marg to avoid traffic congestion.

"Every year 10-12 lakh patients from all over the state and even from neighbouring states come to SMS hospital for treatment. Our aim is to provide them all the facilities at one place. We are working to make it functional as soon as possible," Shekhawat added.Health Affairs: DNA file photo of patients at the SMS Hospital.

Now, the SMS authorities have set February 28 as the new date to make the OPD functional for patients

Arvind Singh/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication