In Trashigang, the COVID Hospital in Kanglung, which was purchased by the government for almost Nu 160 M, remains unused and is now covered in overgrown bushes. Originally Kelki High School, the infrastructure was converted into a 150-bed COVID Hospital during the pandemic, but it has yet to be utilised. Despite being completed for over a year, the hospital has remained idle.
Left unattended, the Covid Hospital in Kanglung has become a roaming ground for livestock and other animals.
Before 2021, this structure was used by Kelki High School. However, with low enrolment, the school was closed. The hospital was also used as a quarantine facility during the pandemic. With the fully equipped hospital left unused, locals are worried.
“They say it is a hospital, but there is no update. It’s just empty. We are scared to go near it. If our cattle go inside the facility, it’s difficult to bring them back,” said Samdrup, a resident of Kanglung Gewog.
“Once there were a lot of people here, but now it is empty. We were happy after the Covid Hospital was established, but then it’s no more. We are scared to go nearby the hospital since tall bushes have grown around the building. No one is taking care of it. Not even the government. Our government invested a huge amount to set up equipment for the hospital. Sometimes, we see monkeys sleeping inside, we chase them away,” said Tashi Wangchuk, another resident.
People say the Covid Hospital should at least have a caretaker to guard the infrastructure. Meanwhile, the government is looking at alternatives to make the best use of the facility.
“We are thinking of asking RUB to use it if they need expansion from the Sherubtse College campus. Or see if it means better for the area for a TVET college. We are still under discussion. It has been a couple of months back that we cleared Covid. Until then we could not touch Covid wards. Thimphu Covid Hospital is switched to Dental Hospital. We will switch the hospital there to an appropriate venture. Till now, we have not decided anything,” said Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering.
After being identified as a Covid Hospital, the Ministry of Health spent nearly Nu 8 M to construct an approach road, toilet maintenance, electrical fittings, and water supply works.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
