The government-run Satellite Hospital on MD Road in Jaipur, initially announced as a 50-bed facility, is now supposed to be a 150-bed hospital on paper. However, the reality is quite different. The hospital lacks basic amenities such as ICU facilities, a labor room, and medicine specialists. Instead, it only has two small rooms housing fewer than 50 beds for admitted patients.

The state government’s tall claims in the budget for 2022-23 did not materialize as the necessary funds were not allocated to run a 50-bed hospital. Later, in the budget announcement for 2023-24, the hospital’s capacity was upgraded to 150 beds, raising hopes for better facilities. Unfortunately, patients visiting the hospital have been left disappointed as no concrete steps have been taken to improve the situation.

One resident, Mohammad Jafar, expressed his frustration, stating that the hospital does not provide the facilities promised by the government. There is a lack of medicine specialists, and the treatment facilities have not been upgraded despite the conversion into a satellite hospital.

Currently, the hospital is operating with only one medicine specialist, as the other has retired, and there is no provision for ICU facilities. The hospital does have an emergency facility, but it falls short of catering to patients with severe conditions requiring specialized treatment.

During a visit to the hospital, it was observed that the basement was being used as a storeroom, and the first floor was used for office space. This leaves the hospital confined to just two small rooms on the ground floor, which are utilized as male and female wards. The limited space prevents the placement of even 50 beds in the wards. Additional space is required to accommodate the hospital’s supposed capacity.

Moreover, while there is a gynecologist posted at the hospital, it lacks a labor room, meaning pregnant women have to seek other government hospitals for deliveries. The hospital possesses X-ray and sonography facilities but lacks CT-MRI services. Additionally, blood is not available on-site, and there are only two operating theaters, one for eye surgery and the other for general surgery.

Although there are around 40 doctors working at the hospital, the nursing staff is limited to only 26 nurses. These shortcomings hinder the hospital’s ability to provide adequate healthcare services to patients in need.