Buxar: The railways has approved Rs 25 lakh to renovate the sub-divisional railway hospital in Buxar. The long-awaited repair work is expected to improve healthcare services for railway employees and their dependents. The renovation work is expected to begin soon after the completion of the tender process.Railway assistant engineer (AEN) Samay Singh Meena said senior railway officials were informed about the hospital’s deteriorating condition through inspections and reports, following which funds were sanctioned. “The tender process is underway and will be completed shortly. Renovation work will start immediately after the contract is awarded,” Meena said.One of the hospital’s biggest problems has been its dilapidated roof. During the monsoon, rainwater seeps into several rooms, disrupting patient care and damaging medicines and medical equipment. Persistent dampness has also affected the electrical system, increasing the risk of short circuits, said Vindhyachal Pandey, rail traffic inspector, Buxar.Despite the sanctioned renovation, manpower shortage remains a major concern. The hospital is currently managed by a single doctor and faces an acute shortage of doctors, nursing staff and other healthcare personnel.Around 40 patients visit the OPD daily, but many are referred to Danapur or Patna because of the lack of specialised medical facilities. Located on the Danapur–Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya (DDU) Junction section, the hospital caters to nearly 5,000 railway employees and their dependants from Buxar, Dumraon, Bihiya, Ara and nearby stations.Railway employee Bihari Prasad welcomed the renovation but said adequate staffing was equally important to ensure quality healthcare services.
