Medical equipment lying idle

Chittoor: The medical equipment worth Rs 50 lakh meant for the proposed Panchakarma Ayurvedic Super Speciality Hospital here has been lying idle for the last six years. The Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) department had sent the valuable equipment to the Government Ayurvedic Dispensary.

The proposal to set up Panchakarma Hospital was kept in abeyance since several years. In a meeting held recently, Regional Director (AYUSH) decided to take back all the medical equipment for using it elsewhere in the State in the backdrop of government’s undue delay in establishing Panchakarma Hospital.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Friday, Dr Vijay Kumar, Senior Medical Officer of the Ayurvedic Government Dispensary, said that the State government had sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for the construction of the Panchakarma Hospital six years ago. Medical equipment worth Rs 50 lakh was sent to Chittoor, he stated.

Vijay Kumar mentioned that no effort was made to start Panchakarma Hospital except finalising the site. If the government permits, Kumar said equipment lying idle can be utilised in the dispensary. The AYUSH department reportedly least interested to establish the Panchakarma Hospital.