Mayor Bijal Patel, in his capacity as the chairperson of the hospital board, on Tuesday presented VS Hospital's budget. The budget has increased by Rs 58.66 crore over the proposed draft budget. Interestingly, the draft budget at Rs 172 crore was for 1,155 beds while the final budget allocation has been made for 500 beds, which now stands at Rs 231 crore.
"The draft budget was for 1,155 beds while we have proposed a budget for 500 beds, at an increase of Rs 58.66 crore. We are going to strengthen the existing structures of the hospital too," said Bijal Patel, mayor and chairperson of VS Hospital and Chinai Hospital.
When asked how, despite a decrease in the number of beds, the budget has increased by such a margin, she didn't provide a clear-cut explanation. It is to be noted that when the hospital's draft budget was presented by the superintendent on January 10, it was pegged at Rs 172 crore and had no mention of beds.
The authorities at that time stated that the matter is sub-judice and hence, it cannot be disclosed. Questions were raised about how the budget could be allocated without an estimate of the number of beds. Interestingly, the board had decided to reduce the number of beds without consent of all board members. Still, no exact number of beds was mentioned, said Dr Nishit Shah, one of the board members of the hospital.
"The budget is fake and has a huge flow of unaccounted funds without scrutiny or accountability. The budget is being audited by a private player and not by the internal auditor of the civic body," said Rupa Chinai, a trustee of the hospital.
Majority of the allocation, Rs 157 crore which is 68% of the total budget, is for establishment expenses. For medicines, drugs and surgical instruments, Rs 26 crore has been allocated which is 11.24% of the total budget. For security, Rs 8.45 crore has been allocated.
THE BUDGET
The budget has increased by Rs 58.66 crore over the proposed draft budget. Interestingly, the draft budget at Rs 172 crore was for 1,155 beds while the final budget allocation has been made for 500 beds, which now stands at Rs 231 crore.
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