Chandigarh Administration has decided to start evening OPDs at three civil hospitals from August onwards. “We have already prepared a blue print to start this facility for the public and soon after the approval of adviser to the Administrator and Administrator, who has already shown their keen interest, we would be able to initiate it in the month of August”, said Anurag Aggarwal, home secretary cum secretary Health, in Chandigarh Administration.
Talking to The Pioneer, Aggarwal added that initially it will be started at three civil hospitals including Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Sector 16 and Family Health Centre Sector 22, and Civil Hospital Manimajra and then it would be extended to Civil Hospital, Police line, Polyclinic sector 45 and rest of more than 20 civil dispensaries at different sectors in Chandigarh, which are under direct control of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation.
Regarding infrastructure for this project, Aggarwal said not much infrastructure is needed as enough equipments and buildings are already there at these hospitals. “We have to engage only additional staff including doctors and other necessary staff on contract basis to run these proposed evening OPDs successfully,” Aggarwal said.
Chandigarh Health secretary also called an emergency meeting with Director Health Services, Dr. V.K. Gagneja and other senior officials of Health department on May 18 to give final touch to this project. Chandigarh Administration wants to count this as one of its achievements, hence it wants to start it before Independence Day this year.
Earlier too, the administration had tested such project at GMSH sector 16 but it had failed due to shortage of manpower. This time, senior officials want to ensure the recruitment of necessary staff first then it would start evening OPDs in Chandigarh. Aggarwal said “We also want to reduce the existing work load on present staff including doctors nurses and other paramedical staff at all these hospitals, where they daily face huge rush of patients”.
He said this would prove an additional facility especially for the working people, who cannot afford enough time for the hospital during the day time. “People would be able to get important treatments related to General Medicine, Surgery, Pediatric, Gynecology etc. there”, added Aggarwal. Administration has decided to continue the proposed OPDs from 3 pm to 8 pm late in the evening. Administration has also asked senior officials in the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to work out the feasibility of engaging additional staff including doctors and others on contract basis at all the dispensaries under their jurisdiction for proposed evening OPDs there.