Neighbouring states elevate patient load at Chandigarh hospitals

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

In view of the rising dengue patient load in city hospitals, the UT Health Department has requested authorities of nearby states not to send non-critical patients to government health facilities here.

At the GMCH-32, there are 126 patients of acute fever with thrombocytopenia and 38 patients of dengue. Only 25 and eight, respectively, of them are from the city. Out of 90 admissions in the GMSH-16 during the past two days, only 18 patients are city residents.

UT Health Secretary Yashpal Garg said, “The number of patients in the hospitals has suddenly increased manifold because of patients from the adjoining areas. Doctors informed that most of the patients from the adjoining areas are non-critical and could have been treated there itself. The authorities of the adjoining states are being requested not to send non-critical patients so that sufficient space and better care is available for the critical patients at the GMSH-16 and the GMCH-32.”

To cope with the rush, Covid wards have already been opened for patients of fever, malaria and dengue. Further, the Covid-19 hospital at Sector 48 is also being opened from Monday for such patients.

The Health Department has stated that there was sufficient stock of required medicines and kits and each of the aspect was being closely monitored. The department stated that the number of cases was expected to reduce in the coming week.

A total of 394 cases of dengue have been reported from the city so far and 310 of these have surfaced this month. As many as 85 cases are from other states.

The UT Health Department has requested the Education Department for providing 100 NSS volunteers for assisting malaria/dengue-related activities starting from Monday. The activities would continue till October 30.