Visakhapatnam: Though Health City at Arilova area in Vizag was launched with eight operational hospitals, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) and the GVMC are not playing their role properly to create basic infrastructure at Health City. The medical fraternity has been expressing displeasure over the lack of basic infrastructure such as proper roads, effluent treatment plant (ETP), drinking water, street lights and few others at the Health City, citing that they have invested huge amounts for their projects but are experiencing losses.
The APIIC has allotted 66 acres of land for Health City and so far only eight hospitals are up and running and another 26 are under various stages of construction. Secretary of Visakha health city hospitals’ association (VHHA) S.K.E. Appa Rao said that APIIC has been imposing hefty fines on hospital managements if there is a delay in the construction of the hospitals. So far we had paid Rs 3 crore as fine but, APIIC and GVMC have failed to fulfil their responsibilities of providing basic amenities.
Both APIIC and GVMC are engaged in a blame-game over ensuring provision of basic amenities. Sources said that APIIC has spent only '15 crore so far for creating basic infrastructure and it has to spend a lot more to fulfil the requirement of Health City. Due to poor facilities in the Health City, patients used to visit hospitals located in prime areas, members of the association allege. There was a delay in the plan approval of hospitals and as per guidelines of APIIC, proper roads, street lighting and common facilities have to be provided by the authorities. “We have been requesting APIIC and GVMC to solve our problems, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears,” said Rao.
