Chandigarh: Covid test must for OPD patients

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

All patients attending OPDs at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, and the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, will have to undergo the Covid-19 test from now onwards.

The UT Health Secretary, Yash Pal Garg, has ordered that all patients in OPDs will be required to undergo the Covid test. However, in case of emergency and serious patients, the doctor concerned may immediately provide treatment or consultation and get the Covid test done at a later stage. Dr Jasbinder Kaur, Director, GMCH, said, “Patients can get their Covid reports before coming for OPDs, but if the report is not available, the hospital authorities will carry an antigen test on patients.

However, in emergency cases, the Covid test will not be a mandatory requirement. It can be conducted later when the patient is given treatment.”

To streamline the process of OPDs and in view of Covid-related issues, it has been decided to start walk-in OPD registration at the GMCH in addition to the existing process of online registration. The walk-in registration will be allowed from 8 am to 11 am from tomorrow onwards (September 20).

“The pilot project of OPD registration at the e-Sampark centre is going on for the past about 10 days in Sector 15. The IT Department is in the process of procuring a bar code printer and thereafter the OPD registration for the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, will be allowed at all e-Sampark centres in the city in the next 15 days,” the UT Health Secretary said.

GMSH-16 to have 1 more EMO at night

During a surprise night inspection by the Health Secretary on September 13, it was observed that there was a rush in the Emergency at the GMSH. Thereafter, another surprise night inspection was conducted by senior doctors of the GMSH and a similar rush was observed in the Emergency. In view of the revelations during the surprise night inspections and a similar feedback from the public, it has been decided to depute one more Emergency Medical Officer (EMO) during the night shift at the GMSH.