Sans power supply, Rs 1.5-cr O2 plant lies non-operational at Jawali hospital

Three years after its installation, the PSA (Pressure Swing Absorption) oxygen generation plant at Jawali Civil Hospital remains non-operational, depriving the region of a critical healthcare resource. The plant, set up at a cost of Rs 1.50 crore under a Central government initiative, was meant to ensure round-the-clock oxygen supply for patients in emergency situations. However, due to the failure of the state Health and Family Welfare Department to provide the necessary power supply, the facility has been left unused.

Installed in 2022, the plant was part of a broader plan to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. Similar plants at Nurpur Civil Hospital, the Ayurvedic College at Paprola, Civil Hospital Palampur, and the Zonal and Tanda Medical Colleges were all made operational within a year. Yet, the Jawali plant remains locked, forcing the hospital to rely on oxygen cylinders. This dependency poses logistical challenges, including frequent cylinder refills, which strain the hospital administration.

Residents of the Jawali subdivision, frustrated by the inaction, have voiced their anger. Former Nagar Panchayat councillor Ravi Kumar criticised the state government and local MLA Chander Kumar for failing to operationalise the plant despite its significance. He emphasised the urgent need to make the facility functional without further delay.

According to official sources, the delay stems from a Rs 40 lakh demand by the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Ltd (HPSEBL) to install a power transformer for the plant. The required funds, however, have yet to be allocated by the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Dr Rajesh Guleri, Chief Medical Officer, Kangra, were unsuccessful as he is currently on leave. Meanwhile, the locked plant remains a stark reminder of the gap between infrastructure development and its actual implementation, leaving the people of Jawali without the benefits of this vital healthcare resource.