PGI collects 1,750-kg tobacco items from patients, wards

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 17

While the Health Department has failed to curb the use of tobacco in Chandigarh in hospitals, now, the PGI has taken a lead. 

In past three years, the PGI has recovered 1,750-kg of tobacco products from patients and their attendants, who were attempting to take such items inside the hospital.

According to the Medical Superintendent (MS), Dr AK Gupta, every month, the PGI staff collects roughly 30-kg of tobacco products including cigarettes, ‘khaini’ and ‘bidi’ from 19 entry points of Nehru Hospital, New OPD, Eye OPD and Advance Paediatric and Cardiac centre respectively.

The security guards put the recovered tobacco products in a glass box for the public display. Such boxes are kept at all 19 entry points.

“We have issued nearly 100 challan for smoking in public. Interestingly, some of the PGI staff employees were also among those who were challaned. The curb on use tobacco has also helped the hospital staff in maintaining cleanliness,” said AK Gupta. He said the stockpile of seized tobacco items is destroyed in the incinerator.