After a delay of more than six years, the Nepal Government is reportedly ready to receive a trauma centre constructed with Indian aid adjacent to Bir Hospital.
According to a Kantipur Online report, the formal transfer of the sophisticated facility from India to Nepal is expected to take place on the sidelines of the SAARC Summit and in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Originally, the trauma centre was to start operations in 2009. The 200-bedded centre is a 1.5 billion rupee project of the Government of India. The centre will have 150 beds in the trauma ward, six operation theatres, 14 ICUs, eight resuscitation rooms and beds for emergency observation, 10 examination cubicles in the outpatient department and a triage area.
Nepal's Health Minister, Khagaraj Adhikari, said Kathmandu has proposed November 27 as the handover date. He said the official confirmation will come through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after consultation with the Indian Embassy in Nepal. Indian Embassy sources said the inaugural programme will be confirmed in a week.
Frequent changes in government, vested interests and bickering over its governing body have delayed the operation of the centre that was initially claimed to be the best in South Asia.
The foundation of the centre was laid by former Indian Prime Minister I.K. Gujral in 1997. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two governments to establish the centre on July 30, 2003. Construction work began in 2006.
After the construction was completed in 2008 and some equipment was installed, the National Academy of Medical Sciences failed to operate the centre. Further delay was caused by the efforts of then-Health Minister Rajendra Mahato to bring the centre under the ministry in 2012.
The decision sparked controversy while the anti-graft body National Vigilance Centre seized documents belonging to the centre for review. A case was filed against the government which is sub judice in the Supreme Court. However, the centre has opened the OPD on its premises. Dr Ashok Bajracharya, director of the Trauma Centre, said the building is being renovated.
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