ICU to be functional at GMSH in 2 months, HC told

Chandigarh, January 16

An intensive care unit (ICU) at the GMSH in Sector 16 here will be functional within two months, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was told today.

As a case on maintaining robust health services in the region came up for resumed hearing, Justice Rajan Gupta’s Bench was told that high dependency unit was at present functioning at the hospital.

The Bench was also told that a shortage of doctors was being felt with the augmentation in medical facilities, following which requests had been sent to Punjab and Haryana for sending doctors on deputation. But they were yet to receive response.

Taking a note of the submissions, Justice Gupta asked the states to file affidavits.

On a previous date of hearing, the UT Administration had told Justice Gupta’s Bench that major efforts were on to further enhance healthcare facilities in the city. It told the High Court that two hospitals with a total capacity of 180 beds and a sports injury centre were coming up in the city.

The Bench was told that the construction of a 100-bedded hospital in Sector 48 was likely to be completed by December 31; and details of 248 persons, including 78 doctors, for maintaining round-the-clock service was sent to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In his affidavit, the Secretary, Health, UT, submitted that the Centre had been requested to convey the approval for creation of posts in the Sector 48 Civil Hospital in the interest of patients and the general public.

Referring to the 80-bedded hospital in Maloya village, the Secretary submitted that approval for dismantling the existing old building was being taken by the engineering department and the construction work was likely to be completed by December 2020.

The developments took place a year after the High Court took cognisance of medical services in the region.

Justice Gupta has already admonished the authorities concerned in the city for the absence of appropriate and fully equipped trauma centres in the city.

“It is inexplicable why proper and fully equipped trauma centres have not been set up in the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and the GMHS-16 leaving the PGIMER to bear the brunt,” Justice Gupta had asserted on a previous date of hearing.