SCB upgradation: CAG ticks off Health department

BHUBANESWAR: Upgradation of the School of Nursing, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, to nursing college is hanging fire for more than five years due to administrative logjam. Selection of a suitable site for the proposed nursing college on the medical college campus is now the bone of contention between the the Chief Architect of the Government and the medical college authority. Under the national health policy, the Centre invited proposals from the State Government in 2005 for upgradation of nursing schools attached to the Government medical colleges to nursing college. The State Government submitted the proposal of the School of Nursing on the SCB Medical College campus for one time Central assistance of Rs. 1.5 crore. As per the scheme, the nursing college was to be established with due approval from the national and state nursing councils within 12 months of receiving the Central assistance. The State received the Central assistance in April 2005. However, the money was parked in a savings bank account and had accumulated to Rs. 1.79 crore till June 2010. The latest audit report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), tabled in the monsoon session of the Assembly, pulled up the Health and Family Welfare Department for keeping the Central assistance idle for over five years. During audit of the accounts of office of the Superintendent of SCB, the CAG noticed that the chief architect of the Government selected a site in June 2005 for the construction of the college building. However, the site was not to the liking of the superintendent of the Medical College. A fresh proposal was sent to the chief architect nearly after two years. The chief architect had not approved the new proposal till August last year. The delay in upgradation of the nursing school despite availability of Central assistance shows lack of concern on the part of the Government towards providing better health care services to the public and consequent escalation of construction cost, the CAG remarked adding, the locking up of the Central assistance defeated the very purpose for which it was sanctioned.