CAG: HP failed to establish trauma centres in 5 hosps

Shimla: The health and family welfare department, Himachal Pradesh, has failed to establish envisaged trauma centres in five hospitals even after incurring expenditure of Rs 10.61 crore. There was further idling of funds of Rs 7.81 crore with these hospital authorities for 30-57 months.

Under ‘Capacity building for developing trauma care facilities in government hospitals located on National Highways’, Government of India (GoI) provides assistance to state governments for construction of trauma centres for immediate emergency care to victims of accidents on National Highways. The report of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India tabled in the state assembly on the last day of the Budget session stated that GoI in October 2015 had sanctioned Rs 30.04 crore (central share Rs 27.04 crore and state share Rs 3 crore) for establishment and strengthening of trauma care facilities in five hospitals of the state located at Tanda, Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi and Rampur.

Out of the total sanctioned amount, Rs 10.27 crore was for Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda, in Kangra district while Rs 4.942 crore each was for district hospital Chamba; regional hospital Hamirpur; zonal hospital Mandi and Mahatma Gandhi Medical Service Centre (MGMSC), Rampur.

In October 2015, the Union government had released its share of Rs 17.09 crore, Dr RPGMC Tanda Rs 6.07 crore; and other four hospitals Rs 2.754 crore each, to the HP government as first instalment; further release of funds was to be made after submission of documentary evidence by the state releasing its 10% share, and progress on construction and purchase of equipment. Construction of building was to be completed within one and half years and installation of equipment within two years of release of funds by GoI.

The report said scrutiny of records (October 2018 to January 2019) and information collected (between June 2019 and February 2021) from hospital authorities concerned revealed that work of establishment and strengthening of trauma care facilities was not completed as envisaged.

Administrative approval and expenditure sanction of Rs 17.09 crore was accorded by the state government, inclusive of civil works (Rs 4.45 crore) and procurement and installation of equipment ( Rs 12.64 crore) in four hospitals (Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi and Rampur) in July 2016 and in one hospital (Tanda) in March 2017, that is after delay of eight and sixteen months respectively, from receipt of first instalment from GoI, it added.

The CAG report said that state government was required to release total state share of Rs 1.90 crore (10% matching share against GoI release of Rs 17.09 crore) in respect of the five hospitals at Tanda, Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi and Rampur. It was noted that although the state government had released Rs 1.33 crore for the hospitals at Tanda (Rs 0.67 crore in March 2018) and Rampur (Rs 0.66 crore in March 2019), the state share of Rs 0.92 crore was not released in respect of hospitals at Chamba, Hamirpur and Mandi as of July 2020.

It said authorities of the five hospitals at Chamba, Hamirpur, Mandi, Rampur and Tanda drew funds of Rs 5.25 crore (between September 2016 and March 2019) from the treasury for civil work, but were not able to start or complete the civil work of construction of dedicated trauma centres. It added that site was not finalized in Chamba and Hamirpur, location was shifted in Mandi, delay due to removal of trees on site in Rampur and delay in execution of work in Tanda.