PGIMER is overloaded as Punjab and other States’ management is lacking behind
Chandigarh Situation is at stake
M4PNews|Chandigarh
Noted Advocate and Activist of Chandigarh, Member Rogi Kalyan Smiti, Advocate Ajay Jagga, today wrote a letter to Dr. Harsh Vardhan on the worsening COVID condition of Chandigarh. Though As per him, the administration and PGIMER are on the toe and how long will they be able to sustain as cases are surging like fire in city and PGIMER is not only handling city burden but also handling neighboring States’ COVID cases as well.
Talking only about PGIMER, it has 200 Beds in Nehru Extension Block which is COVID Hospital, managed as 160 for moderate and severe and 40 Beds for Critical cases. Talking on the PGIMER situation, the official Spokesperson Prof Ashok Kumar says that there are no two opinions that with daily cases crossing now even 100, we are in the midst of a big challenge, which can be met only with collaborative efforts. With already having 200 bed dedicated COVID hospital, we are working on modalities to increase the capacity by 100 more beds as directed by the administration.
As on date, 30-bed capacity has already been earmarked in Advanced Paediatric Centre and another 80-bed capacity has been earmarked in NHE, the dedicated COVID Hospital. The other modalities like skill training, deployment of man-power, etc. are already underway to make this additional bed capacity functional soon.
However, in the long run, we have to take care of Non-COVID patients, the services of which have been disturbed since March 2020. It would be in the fitness of things that a model may be adopted where one critical COVID centre for patient capacity as per estimates is developed without hampering the non-COVID services at PGIMER.
Heres the Letter written by Adv Ajay Jagga to Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan
Sh. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, New Delhi
Subject: MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN CHANDIGARH : Critical Care Facilities for COVID-19 Patents of Chandigarh in bad shape; situation is likely to worsen and go out of hands within 15 days, if emergency steps are not taken.
Sir,
As a resident of Chandigarh and citizen of India and even as Member of Rogi Kalyan Samiti, I feel it is my primary duty, under Constitution of India, to convey that a bizarre situation is developing in Chandigarh, as the premier health care centre for COVID patients i.e. Nehru Hospital under the management of PGIMER Chandigarh and even at Special COVID Hospital/Centre in Sector 48, Chandigarh, has NO BEDS for Chandigarh residents who require critical care due to COVID-19. As per my information in the Nehru Hospital (COVID Centre) out of 140 critical care patients facility only patients 50 are from Chandigarh and rest are from other states. Similarly in COVID CENTRE of Sector 48, under the GMCH-32, Chandigarh, out of 34 COVID patients facility, only 20 patients are from Chandigarh and rest from other states. Even in OPD side, in GMCH-32, out of 177 patients admitted ( in August – 2020) in GMCH-32 (non-Covid) app 62 are from Chandigarh and rest from other states.
Now, the way number of patients is going up in Chandigarh i.e. app 100 per day, in another 15 days, we may have 1500 patients from Chandigarh, and even is 1/3rd require critical care or hospitalization where do they do go.
Sir, it is humbly prayed that emergent instructions may please be issued to PGIMER and GMCH to think of Chandigarh Resident and some beds likes minimum 50% should be kept for Chandigarh, otherwise where will the residents of Chandigarh go.
Sir, situation will become worst from bad, if nothing is done, for residents of Chandigarh. Sir, if 75% beds or space is given to residents from other states, then Chandigarh residents has not place to go for Critical care.
Sir, situation is very alarming and require not urgent but emergent attention, so that there is enough space for the resident of Chandigarh in COVID-19 hospitals i.e. Nehru Hospital under PGIMER and Sector 48 Covid Care Centre. And even OPD facilities/beds etc should be there for residents of Chandigarh.
THE PRAYER IS THAT THE NEHRU HOSPITAL UNDER PGI, COVID-CENTRE 48 SECTOR, GMCH-32 must ramp up the facilities for residents of Chandigarh. Sir, at least 500 beds for Chandigarh residents are a must as of now apart from the existing (if 50% is kept for Chandigarh residents). If workable a day to day situation of beds and their occupants be declared online so that there is complete transparency. PGIMER is an autonomous body, hence only Min of Health, GOI, can save the residents of Chandigarh.
Sir, you may call for a ground report of entire COVID facilities at Chandigarh.
Thanking you. Yours truly AJAY JAGGA, Member, ROGI KALYAN SAMITI