Tuem hospital to open partially in Jan, says Arolkar; activists cry foul

NT Reporter

Pernem

The new hospital building developed at Tuem, Pernem will be partially opened next month, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar said.

 “The building will be handed over by GSIDC and the dialysis unit which is presently operating on the ground floor will be shifted to the first floor. Also, other new units will be started. The mini operation theatre will be operational immediately. However, the major operation theatre will be operational after six months as GSIDC is yet to float the tender for equipment,” he said.

He said that following a joint inspection by officials from the Health Department, GSIDC and Dean of GMC, a report was submitted.

With regard to job recruitment, Arolkar said, “The draft is already submitted to the government and is presently with Personnel. The hospital will be linked to GMC. Doctors from GMC will be available at this hospital once a week.”

During the inspection, several key points were finalised, including cleaning of rooms on the ground floor by GSIDC, shifting of the existing dialysis unit to the first floor, and setting up of the X-ray unit on the ground floor.  The existing OPD, laboratory and pharmacy operating from the old building are proposed to be shifted to the new building by January 1, 2026.

Sources said the GMC Dean is expected to pass orders for a few senior doctors to perform duty for one day a week. Recruitment of essential professionals is to be fast-tracked, and a nursing college will be required to sign a bond with the hospital to depute its pass-out nursing students for one year of service.

However, opposition to the move has emerged locally. “The MLA is only fooling people. It is the strategy to shift CHC to the new hospital premises. Instead of shifting at one go, they have planned to shift OPD, lab and pharmacy by January 1, 2026. This is to defuse the objections of people,” said Jose Lobo, president of the Tuem Hospital Kruti Samiti.