Seven years after its initial approval and months past its September 2024 deadline, the much-anticipated Advanced Neuroscience Centre (ANC) at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in Chandigarh remains a hollow promise. Envisioned as a world-class, 300-bed hub for complex brain and spine care, the Rs 490 crore facility currently stands as an incomplete shell, crippled by a shocking lack of basic infrastructure and essential medical equipment.
A Project Plagued by Missing Machinery and Manpower
The centre's path to functionality hit a major roadblock when the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare declined approval for essential CT scan and MRI machines. Hopes for a swift resolution were recently dashed when a crucial Standing Finance Committee meeting, scheduled for December 26 to take up these approvals, was abruptly cancelled. This indefinite postponement pushes the centre's operational date further into an uncertain future.
Beyond the high-tech imaging gaps, the centre faces a severe shortage of technical staff. While some equipment, like X-ray and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) machines, has been installed, there is no dedicated manpower to operate them. This renders even the available technology useless. Adding to the absurdity, office furniture was purchased over a year ago, but most of the operation theatre (OT) tables and patient beds are yet to be bought.
Architectural Oversights and Logistical Nightmares
The project has drawn sharp criticism for a fundamental lack of vision in its planning. In a staggering oversight for a 300-bed facility meant for critically ill patients, the building has no dedicated kitchen. The hospital administration plans to manage catering from the existing Advanced Cardiac Centre, which is already slated to serve the upcoming Mother and Child Care Centre as well. Medical staff fear this arrangement will cause immense inconvenience and compromise patient care.
This stands in stark contrast to the neighbouring Mother and Child Centre, which sits on Rs 150 crore worth of donated equipment from Infosys but awaits a functional building. Meanwhile, the Neuroscience Centre continues its agonizing wait for both machinery and basic infrastructure. "There has been no vision in the making of these centres and thus the delay," lamented an official involved with the project.
A Long Wait for World-Class Care
The continued stalling of the Advanced Neuroscience Centre represents a significant setback for healthcare in the region. Promised as a premier destination for neurological disorders, its "half-baked" state denies patients access to specialized, centralized care. The series of delays, from equipment approvals to fundamental design flaws, highlights systemic issues in executing large-scale public health projects.
With no new date set for the critical finance committee meeting and basic necessities like a kitchen still not addressed, the centre's journey from a concrete shell to a functioning hospital appears longer than ever. Patients and medical professionals alike are left wondering when, or if, this Rs 490 crore vision will finally become a reality.
