Nine years on, Janakpuri super-speciality hosp lacks even basic means

Nine years after its inauguration, the Delhi government's Super-Speciality Hospital in Janakpuri can hardly live up to its name. With the shortage of required staff and facilities, the 'specialised' treatment expected at the hospital remains a distant dream. In fact, the hospital is only partially able to perform laboratory tests related to cardiology, neurology, nephrology, and gastroenterology — the fields in which it claims to specialise.

The 250-bed hospital was inaugurated along with the 650-bed Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital in 2008, at an estimated expenditure of Rs 150 crore. At present, the hospital has ECG, ECHO, and TMT facilities for heart patients, but coronary angiography, angioplasty, and even stenting is yet to start. The unavailability of these treatments raises questions about the specialised healthcare facility.

"We have floated tenders for operation theatres, and surgeries in all departments are expected to start later this year," Medical Director Dr MM Mehndiratta said. "We have all the equipment for a Cath lab (catheterisation laboratory for cardio problems) and an assistant professor will join us soon. The lab is thus expected to be operational within the next two weeks," he added. Patients, however, are not convinced. "I was brought here after I felt uneasy and breathless a few days ago. I had to get my angiography done from outside as the hospital does not have the facility. It is difficult to run around to various places for treatment," said Bhudwati Kaur, a heart patient currently admitted at the hospital.

The hospital also boasts of Nephrology as one of its specialties, but it does not have the dialysis facility yet. According to the Director, the facility will be available in the next three months.

A few patients admitted in different departments have all been moved to four wards on the same floor. While thousands throng the AIIMS and Safdarjung for treatment on a daily basis, hospitals like Janakpuri and Rajiv Gandhi stand as an example of bad planning and vision, and under-utilisation of resources.