If distinguished cardiovascular surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan has his way, the super speciality unit on the premises of Ranchi Sadar Hospital, which has been comatose since birth, may throb with new life a year from now.
The founder of Gurgaon-based Medanta-The Medicity, which is among the three private players in the fray to run the facility near Albert Ekka Chowk, paid a whirlwind visit on Sunday and gave a positive signal towards its second coming. Dr Trehan recommended an infrastructure rejig at the semi-finished complex, waiting for an operator since 2011, and gave his word to the chief minister for an extensive inspection later.
Chennai-headquartered Apollo Hospitals and Calcutta-based Medica Super Speciality Hospital are Medanta's contenders in running the Rs 131-crore heal hub. The final player is expected to be chosen at a cabinet meeting.
"We are a committed player in the health sector and are happy that we have been invited to review this hospital. The infrastructure, as we see now, will need at least six to eight months to shape up as a super speciality hospital," Dr Trehan ignited hopes as he addressed the media after inspecting the treatment unit, wards and doctors' hostel for 40 minutes from 11.30am.
The Medanta boss was accompanied by its president and chief financial officer Anil Virmani and its vice-president (marketing) Rajiv Mishra.
A cousin of Ranchi Sadar Hospital, will the super speciality wing still cater to the ailing underprivileged sections of the society if Medanta takes charge or will medical expenses become a deterrent for the poor?
"For me, a heart is a heart; it cannot be a poor heart or a rich heart. The Jharkhand government has invited us to make this hospital functional and we are keen on doing so. Medanta (in Gurgaon) serves with a mission, where doctors do not differentiate between people. Our mission will remain the same (in Ranchi)," Dr Trehan said with his signature smile, which is by itself nourishing.
Ram Kumar, deputy secretary of health who accompanied the Medanta team on behalf of the government, further allayed fears of medical alienation of the poor that had triggered protests against privatisation of the hospital in recent times.
"The rates quoted by Medanta (when it had placed bid) were at par with CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme). It was clear that Medanta is interested and so we allowed it to inspect the hospital even while a final nod is pending. People must not think that treatment costs will soar once a private player takes over. Besides, all BPL patients will be treated for free. Their expenses will be borne by the state government," Kumar said.
Engineers of National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), which had constructed the super speciality unit, have already detailed Dr Trehan and his team about the structure and its provisions.
"The super built-up area of the hospital is 750,000sqft. It has two main connected units, the treatment wing and the ward. The treatment wing boasts the basement and G+8 floors while the ward comprises basement and G+5. The doctors' hostel, on the other hand, is G+9. There are two entrances to the hospital. The main for the treatment unit opens on Dr Camil Bulcke Path (Purulia Road) just opposite to St Xavier's College. Another entrance is for the ward from Ranchi Sadar Hospital's Birla wing," said one of the NBCC engineers.
Dr Trehan also called on chief minister Das at the latter's Kanke Road residence on Sunday afternoon. During their half-an-hour meeting, the doctor spoke on necessary infrastructure changes. While Das is learnt to have emphasised on starting work at the earliest so that the super speciality hospital could become functional by this year-end, Dr Trehan said that his team - a larger one this time - would conduct "a detailed inspection" of the facility for which they would return soon.
Chief secretary Rajiv Gauba, principal health secretary K. Vidyasagar, principal secretary to chief minister Sanjay Kumar and secretary at the secretariat Sunil Barnwal also attended the meeting.
