The intensive care unit (ICU) at sadar hospital has remained defunct four months after the health minister’s directive to make it operational.

In April, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey had directed the authorities to start the ICU within a month.

Deputy superintendent of the hospital Dr Shambhu Nath Singh said it could start functioning in a fortnight.

The ICU building, on the premises of the sadar hospital, has been ready for a-year-and-a-half but doctors have not been deputed.

Sources said paediatrician, surgeon and anaesth- etist are necessary to run an ICU.

Although Saran district had a paediatrician and a surgeon, the doctors were not deputed at the ICU because of the lack of apparatus and unavailability of an anaesthetist. Till a month back, the ICU did not even have the necessary apparatus.

The sadar hospital manager, Rajeshwar Prasad, said requisition for apparatus worth Rs 40 lakh was placed. A few have of them reached the facility around 20 days ago.