Dismal management: Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna

The problem of plenty seemed to have plagued Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences as it could all but return Rs 20 crore given for building construction and repair works.

Sources in the health department said the IGIMS had recently returned the whopping amount after failing to utilise it for three years.

According to a well-placed source in the health department, it has provided IGIMS with Rs 20 crore.

In the same financial year of 2010-11, Rs 26,10,50,000 was disbursed for buying equipment like CT scan machine, MRI machine, cardiac cath lab, image intensifier among others.

The Telegraph had highlighted the IGIMS administration’s negligence regarding utilisation of the funds in its January 24, 2013, edition.

Deepak Kumar, principal secretary, health department, said: “Yes, the IGIMS administration has returned around Rs 20 crore, which was provided to the hospital three years ago. As they could not utilise the funds even in these three years, we asked them to return it. We are going to carry an investigation as to why the funds were not utilised by the authority concerned.”

On the other hand, the sources said the health department had given Rs 4.5 crore to the hospital for buying an MRI machine, Rs 1.5 crore for a CT scan machine, Rs 4 crore for developing cardiac cath lab with added features. “We have also given the IGIMS Rs 10.60 crore for linear accelerator, Rs 1 crore for anaesthesia work station among others,” they added.

The sources said the health department had asked the authority concerned about the delay but the hospital administration had communicated that the provided funds were not enough.

“They had told the department the cost of the equipment had increased but this happened because the hospital did not utilise the funds on time and when the cost of equipment increased, they were not able to buy those. But their explanation is not justified at all. It is because of their delay that they cannot buy the equipment now. Had they bought the equipment in the year they were provided the funds, then the problem could not have been risen,” said a source from the health department under conditions of anonymity.

The IMA state chapter expressed unhappiness to hear the development. “This is highly regrettable that funds are available at a hospital but it is not being utilised. Ultimately, it is the patient who is suffering because of this negligence. If a hospital has funds, it must utilise it,” said Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, president, state IMA chapter.

“At a time when the chief minister is seeking special status category from the Centre so that it get more funds for carrying out development programmes in the state, such kind of approach cannot be in favour of the state’s development. If the facilities were available, the patients would need not to go to private hospitals,” said a doctor who did not wish to be named.

Repeated attempts to contact the IGIMS director and other officials concerned turned futile.