After Delay, Govt Promises Aid To GMCH Cancer Unit

Nagpur: Maharashtra govt informed Bombay high court's Nagpur bench last week the crucial 30% advance payment required for procurement of a linear accelerator machine for cancer treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here will be released in June.The assurance came during the hearing of a suo motu PIL concerning the deteriorating condition and lack of infrastructure at govt medical colleges and hospitals in Vidarbha.A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode was told that the machine would be dispatched to GMCH only after the required advance funds were made available. The linear accelerator machine, considered critical for advanced cancer treatment and radiotherapy, was granted administrative approval in 2018 at an estimated cost of 23.20 crore. However, prolonged delays nearly doubled the project cost to around 45 crore, creating a requirement for an additional 22 crore.During the hearing, the state govt informed the court that directions for release of the additional funds were already issued.Court was also told the Nagpur district administration earlier provided 52 crore to GMCH through the District Mineral Foundation and District Planning Committee funds to strengthen medical infrastructure. The HC has been closely monitoring healthcare deficiencies in govt hospitals across Vidarbha through ongoing PIL proceedings, which have repeatedly highlighted shortages of equipment, infrastructure and specialist facilities.Advocate Anup Gilda appeared as amicus curiae in the matter, while senior counsel Firdos Mirza and addl govt pleader Deepak Thakare represented the state. The matter will now be heard after the summer vacation.In a previous hearing, the HC came down heavily on the state govt over delays in installing a linear accelerator machine for cancer treatment, stating that poor patients could not be made to suffer because of administrative indecision and tender disputes.