​Patients, families suffer as Regional Mental Hospital for Marathwada fails to take shape 5 years after state nod

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Regional Mental Hospital (RMH) for Marathwada in Jalna failed to take shape almost five years after getting an official nod from the state cabinet.The 350-bed hospital over 10 acres is expected to serve patients from eight districts of Marathwada, along with Jalgaon and Buldhana.Scores of patients and their families, suffering due to the delay, have accused Mahayuti govt of slowing down the health project announced by the MVA govt at a cost of Rs104.44 crore.Former public health minister Rajesh Tope, who is from Jalna, said barely 50% of construction of the RMH has been done so far.“Work is progressing at a snail’s pace and needs to be expedited. In absence of a state-run hospital, patients needing mental health care need to be shifted to Pune or Thane, where similar facilities are already overcrowded,” he said.State govt is also silent on the creation of posts for the said RMH, which is a major prerequisite before starting the health facility.Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced conversion of RMHs in Pune, Thane, Ratnagiri and Nagpur into teaching institutes, leading to stakeholders from Marathwada drawing his attention to the pending project in Jalna as well.When contacted, deputy director of health for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dr Kanchan Wanere, only said work on the Jalna RMH is in progress. “The state-run hospital will take shape soon. Creation of posts and other formalities will be also completed as per norms,” she said.TOI could not reach state minister of public health and family welfare Prakash Abitkar for comment on the matter.