Kasaragod: In a significant move, the government has decided to transfer the assets of the Rs 60-crore COVID Hospital, constructed by Tata Project, to the Kasaragod District Panchayat. This decision precedes the dismantling of the existing unit to make way for the construction of a concrete structure worth Rs 23 crore. The revamped facility will house a critical care unit and operate under...
Kasaragod: In a significant move, the government has decided to transfer the assets of the Rs 60-crore COVID Hospital, constructed by Tata Project, to the Kasaragod District Panchayat. This decision precedes the dismantling of the existing unit to make way for the construction of a concrete structure worth Rs 23 crore.
The revamped facility will house a critical care unit and operate under the administration of the District Hospital, overseen by the District Panchayat. District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr A V Ramdas confirmed the Government Order effecting the transfer of ownership, which was issued two days ago. The District Panchayat has initiated discussions with the Public Works Department (PWD) and the DMO to devise a plan for dismantling the prefabricated shipping containers that currently constitute the hospital. Tata Project, the constructor, has claimed that these containers have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years.
As per a recent media report by
Onmanorama, both the DMO and the PWD's Executive Engineer have reached out to Tata Project via separate emails, seeking assistance in the disassembly process.
"We are not familiar with shipping containers so we sought Tata's help. They said they would reply in detail soon. We are yet to get their response," said a top official of the PWD. However, Dr Ramdas clarified that not all containers need to be removed. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tata Project swiftly erected a 551-bed quarantine and isolation facility using 128 prefabricated shipping containers, situated on a five-acre plot along the banks of Chandragiri River in Kasaragod's Thekkil Village.
The construction of the hospital was funded by a Rs 60 crore contribution from Tata Group's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Fund, supplemented by an additional Rs 15 crore from the state government for infrastructure development. The government also provided the land, acquired from the Muslim Islamic Complex (MIC), and undertook the establishment of an approach road, uninterrupted power supply, and sewage management systems.
In September 2020, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the COVID management hospital, hailing it as a pivotal asset for healthcare in Kasaragod district, which had long faced a deficit in tertiary care facilities. Despite the creation of 188 staff positions for the hospital, only a fraction of these positions were filled, with approximately 20 staff members appointed.
Post-pandemic, the government found the containers lined up on 81,000 sq ft (1.86 acres) and reassessed the utility of the containers, ultimately deeming them impractical and burdensome to maintain. Suggestions to repurpose the hospital for palliative care or other specialty services were overlooked. Instead, plans were set in motion to dismantle the containers and erect a concrete structure to accommodate a specialized healthcare unit reports The Daily.
On January 12, 2023, after a meeting of Kasaragod MLAs in Kanhangad, Health Minister Veena George stated that the government might dismantle the containers and build a concrete block to house a speciality hospital. On March 8, 2023, Udma MLA C H Kunhambu released a statement stating that the government earmarked a budget of Rs 23 crore to build a critical care centre at Thekkil village. "In the first phase, Rs 23 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a new building with 50 beds and ancillary facilities to start the critical care unit. In the future, this hospital will become a high-quality speciality hospital and function as an affiliated hospital of the District Hospital in Kanhangad," Kunhambu said.
Criticism has been leveled at the exorbitant costs associated with the containers utilized in the construction, each measuring 400 square feet and priced at approximately Rs 50 lakh. Medical professionals lamented that the investment failed to translate into commensurate benefits, with only a scant three to five patients accommodated per container.
Moreover, the onset of the rainy season exacerbated the shortcomings, as water seepage through window joints and beneath doors posed additional challenges. According to The Daily, a report submitted to the Supreme Court by Karunakaran B, the Secretary of the District Legal Service Authority, highlighted a plethora of structural deficiencies. These included leaking rooms, concerns regarding the durability of the plywood-based flooring, and an elevated risk of fire hazards.
Furthermore, doctors emphasized the pressing need for specialist medical personnel and state-of-the-art equipment over the construction of new edifices. They underscored the importance of directing resources towards bolstering healthcare capabilities to address the evolving needs of the district effectively.
As stakeholders navigate the intricacies of healthcare infrastructure management, the transfer of assets and subsequent redevelopment endeavours have ignited debates surrounding resource allocation and priorities within the healthcare sector.
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