The construction of the 40-bed hospital at Jatshokha, Wangdue, which was delayed by two years, is expected to complete by the end of this year.

About 75 percent of the construction is completed and PHPA is funding it with Nu 148.4 million.

The construction of the hospital, which started in 2013, was delayed due to the long procedures involved for the approval of the estimated cost and design specifications.  The construction was expected to complete in March 2015.

Former PHPA’s managing director, RN Khazanchi, in an earlier interview said that the first sanction for the estimated cost was released in July 2015 and the second in 2016.  “As there is no specific or standard design for hospitals, we had to draw the designs afresh like doing it for the first time. The designs differ from hospital to hospital.”

He added that the approval process for the designs and change in design took time because of the number of consultants and agencies involved such as the health ministry, works and human settlement ministry, and local and Indian consultancies. “If there is a change, it has to be routed through the whole same process again.”

The project also includes construction of 16 residential buildings with 69 units and widening and construction of internal colony roads at a cost of Nu 108.67 million. The residential buildings were completed in 2016 and handed over to the dzongkhag administration in 2017. Bajothang hospital staff are currently occupying the buildings.

The project would also provide medical equipment worth Nu 15 million for the hospital and has handed over medical equipment for anesthesia, gynecology and Operation Theater worth Nu 5 million to Bajothang hospital.

The health ministry would procure another Nu 10 million worth of medical equipment.

Karma Cheki | Wangdue

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