Modi to transfer Trauma Centre after much delay

KATHMANDU, OCT 28 - After a delay of more than six years, the government has begun preparations to receive the Trauma Centre, constructed with Indian aid adjacent to Bir Hospital, from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Kathmandu in November for the upcoming Saarc Summit.

The sophisticated facility supposed to begin operations in 2009 is likely to be inaugurated during its handover to Nepal possibly in the last week of November.

The 200-bedded centre is a 1.5 billion rupee project of the government of India. The centre will have 150 beds in the trauma ward, six operation theatres, 14 ICUs, eight resuscitation rooms and beds for emergency observation, 10 examination cubicles in the outpatient department and a triage area.

Health Minister Khagaraj Adhikari said they have proposed November 27 as the handover date. He said the official confirmation will come through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after consultation with the Indian Embassy in Nepal. Indian Embassy sources said the inaugural programme will be confirmed in a week.

Frequent changes in government, vested interests and bickering over its governing body have delayed the operation of the centre that was initially claimed to be the best in South Asia. During the visit of the late Indian PM IK Gujral in 1997, a stone plate was unveiled to announce the project. On July 30, 2003, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two governments to establish the centre. Construction works began in 2006.

After the construction was complete in 2008 and some equipment installed, the National Academy of Medical Sciences failed to operate the centre. Further delay was caused by the efforts of then-Health Minister Rajendra Mahato to bring the centre under the ministry in 2012.

The decision sparked controversy while the anti-graft body National Vigilance Centre seized documents belonging to the centre for review. A case was filed against the government which is sub judice in the Supreme Court. However, the centre has opened the OPD on its premises. Dr Ashok Bajracharya, director of the Trauma Centre, said the building is being renovated.