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OPEN HOUSE: Should the administration resume OPDs at the pgi and the gmch?
Consider footfall from far-off areas
After resuming OPDs, patients from the northern region, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and from far-flung areas of the country will come for treatment. This may also be considered while going ahead with the decision.
Harsimran Singh Makkar, Chandigarh
Will be a relief
Condition of many patients has worsened due to the closure of OPDs. Patients with serious ailments immediate medical attention. Opening of OPDs will provide some relief to such patients as private hospitals are looting public. The number of OPDs must be increased to cut the patients waiting time.
Vijay Malia, Chandigarh
Covid-appropriate behaviour a must
It's time to allow patients to visit OPDs without seeking prior online appointment for treatment of their routine ailments. However, patients must follow Covid protocol during registration and consultation.
SC Luthra, Chandigarh
Start OPDs gradually
OPDs should be opened in a phased manner. Patients from neighbouring states, who come for routine check-up, should be restricted from hospitals. Only referral cases be attended at premier hospitals.
KC Rana, Chandigarh
PGIMER treatment unmatchable
The PGIMER and GMCH-32 are famous among patients from Punjab, Haryana, J&K, HP and UP. Doctors' treatment and managing patients at the PGI is unmatchable. In the light of the same, OPDs at both these hospitals should restart at the earliest.
NPS Sohal, Chandigarh
Poor are worst hit
The UT Administration must open the PGI and GMCH-32 OPDs as well as start elective surgeries. Due to the closure of OPDs in government hospitals, poor people have suffered a lot. They cannot afford to pay private doctors.
Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Sangrur
Attend to not more than 50 patients a day
Walk-in OPDs for the general public can be opened at the PGI and the GMCH as more and more people in the UT are getting vaccinated against Covid. There should be a limit on number of patients to be attended in a day. At present, it should not be more than 50 a day.
AK Jindal, Patiala
Suitable seating arrangements
Patients faced difficulties without OPD services. The PGIMER and GMCH-32 should start OPDs for the general public. Seating arrangements with proper distancing should be made at both hospitals.
Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali
All and sundry will be benefited
Everyone can't afford expensive treatmentat private hospitals. Limited online consultations have been allowed, but all can't access this facility due to a few time slots. Therefore, it's high time for OPDs at the PGI and the GMCH to open. It will bring a relief to all and sundry.
Suresh Verma, Chandigarh
Everyone has to be careful
As Covid cases have declined in the UT, the PGI and the GMCH OPDs can be opened for the public. Limited patients should be allowed in OPDs. It's important that anyone visiting hospital takes precautionary measures.
MR Bhateja, Nayagaon
Covid test of patients at OPDs
Online registration must be compulsory for visiting the PGI and the GMCH. It's necessary to conduct Covid testof patients arriving at OPDs. The UT should make arrangements to prevent crowding.
Anita Tandon, Kharar
Allow vaccinated patients at OPDs
Only those patients should be allowed in OPDs, who are fully vaccinated.Patients should show their vaccine certificates during registration for the OPD consultation.
Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali
Take precautions at all costs
Covid cases have declined in the UT. Therefore, it's safe to open the PGI and the GMCH. However, Covid precautions must be taken at all costs. Initially, OPDs must open for a limited patients to avoid rush. Every OPD patient must carry his/her vaccination certificate.
Antra Rakheja, Chandigarh
Senior citizens HIT
The OPDs should open for non-Covid patients. Sick people, especially senior citizens, are facing problems as OPDs have been lying closed for long. There are other diseases besides Covid, which cause lots of suffering, if not treated systematically.
Bubby Soin, Chandigarh
Online registration to avoid chaos
The PGI and the GMCH-32 should resume OPD services. Online registration should be mandatory to prevent chaos and maintain social distancing on hospital premises. Time slot should be allotted to patients.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Strategy to enforce safety protocol
The Administration should make a proper strategy so that visitors follow Covid protocol strictly.
Adish Sood, Amloh
People from rural areas suffering
Many patients have chronic health problems. At times, they do not get timely appointments and their condition worsens. Due to the suspension of walk-in OPDs, poor people, especially from the rural areas, are suffering as they visit government hospitals for treatment. The UT should open routine OPDs for the public.
Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd), UT
Ensure doctors, staff, patients are inoculated
The Administration should ponder over opening the OPDs. Patients cannot be deprived of healthcare services. As the fear of third Covid wave looms large, the authorities must ensure that doctors, staff and patients are vaccinated.
Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula
Start OPDs, ensure sops are followed
It's high time for the OPDs to open. It must be ensured that all SOPs are followed. Patients with minor ailments may be advised online.
Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh
Provide essential health services
The Administration should consider providing essential health services. It should open OPDs for a limited patients. Also, the hospital authorities should ensure safety of doctors, health workers and patients.
Charu Malhotra, Mohali
Expand healthcare infrastructure
The need of the hour is to expand OPD infrastructure so that medical attention is available for anyone who needs it without any delay.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Not all can avail of online facilities
As Covid cases have reduced to negligible and restrictions have been relaxed/almost removed, it's time to allow walk-in OPDs in all government hospitals. Most patients are not able to avail of online medical facilities.
Sqn Ldr Manjit Singh Johar (retd), UT
Due care for elderly
Many critical patients suffered on account of the closure of the walk-in-OPDs at the PGI and the GMCH-32. Such patients were fleeced by private hospitals. The elderly should always be always be given due care in the OPDs. So, it's high time to restore walk-in OPDs in all the three government hospitals.
Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, Chandigarh
Admn should take an urgent call
The UT Administration should take an urgent call on restoration of walk-in OPDs. Equally imperative for these hospitals is to ensure that Covid protocols are not violated.
Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh
Continue online consultation
The government hospitals in the UT should continue online consultation instead of opening OPDs. All helplines should be operational and reachable.
Saikrit Gulati,Chandigarh
Make online registration easy
The PGI and the GMCH can make the existing online registration process easy. The faith in the PGI helpline can be restored by upgrading it to receive messages of the department concerned, which contain details of the patients who intend to visit the medical facility.
Babu Ram Dhiman, Pinjore
start OPDs with staggered timings
Its time that the PGI and the GMCH-32 open walk-in OPDS for the poor, but with a rider. OPDs may start at staggered timings to prevent crowding.
Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali
Regulate number of patients on daily basis
Time has come for OPDs to start at the PGI and GMCH, Sector 32, for walk-in patients. This is important as the general public has remained deprived of such facilities for a long time. Such a step will lead to overcrowding in hospitals. So, suitable measures can be taken to regulate the number of patients on a daily basis in various departments.
Dr Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula
Still High risk of spreading infection
Once the OPDs open, a large number of patients from the neighbouring states will avail of the facility. This will increase the chances of spreading virus. OPDs should open only for serious cases. The PGI and GMCH should deal with referral cases only.
Paramjeet Singh, Chandigarh
Don’t make patients suffer more
Maximum public activities have begun with moderate restrictions and guidelines. Therefore, the OPDs should start functioning for the convenience of patients with harsher precautions. Online prior appointmentcan be made compulsory so that limited number of patients are called daily.
Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali
People have faith in govt hospitals
Only a few Covid cases are reported and the number of active cases has declined in the UT. Most residents have already received the first dose of Covid vaccine. So, the Administration should allow walk-in OPDs in all government hospitals and dispensaries. Peopleh ave faith in government hospitals, especially in serious cases.
Sukhwant Bhullar, Chandigarh
Clear backlog
The Administration should ensure that staff and specialist doctors are deployed in OPDs. Backlog of pending surgeries should be cleared before the third coronavirus wave strikes.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
It’ll be a mockery of safety norms
Social distancing will go for a toss in the OPDs. Doctors are doing their best by providing consultation through telemedicine, calling limited number of patients to OPDs and also performing scheduled surgeries. Let the Administration wait for a few more months before opening OPDs.
Savita Kuthiala, Chandigarh
Don't rush
The UT should not rush to open walk-in OPDs in government hospitals. Daily registration of patients visiting hospitals should be limited and regulated.
RPS Chopra, Chandigarh
QUESTION
After the MC replaced traditional rehris with its vehicles for waste collection, it started adding garbage collection charges to the water bills. Residents are confused and say they are receiving hefty bills. What should be done to check the chaos?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
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