HEALTH

New OPD in PGI, some respite
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh , March 25
The Rs 20-crore new PGI OPD received as many as 15,341 patients in the first week of functioning since March 19. On the first day itself, the new block received around 2,459 patients. The building, which is scheduled to be formally inaugurated by the Union Health Minister, Dr C.P. Thakur on April 4, has come as a welcome respite for a large number of patients who throng the hospital from across the region despite certain problems.

Problems such as transportation from the old OPD to the new block and organised diagnostic facilities are still to be resolved by PGI authorities. Many patients visiting the new block for the first time continue to feel harassed due to lack of transport facilities till the gate opposite Sector 11, which is adjacent to the new OPD Block.

At present, there are only three buses that come up to this gate; two buses between Khuda Alisher and Sector 47 (bus numbers 131 and 3) with a frequency of one hour, which stop at the new OPD gate. Another bus plies from the PGI main gate, opposite the Panjab University to Sector 21, Panchkula, which goes via the new OPD with a frequency of 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the PGI authorities are pursuing the matter with the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) to divert some more buses till the new OPD gate becomes functional.

According to sources, Ultrasound, X-Ray and other diagnostic facilities would start functioning at the new block from this week onwards. This will save the patients from harassment, as at present they have to go to the Nehru Hospital, which houses the old OPD to avail the facilities and is about half-a-kilometre away.

However, certain special tests like CT scans, MRI, endoscope and other minimally invasive procedures, test for heart problems like echocardiography and angiography will continue in the old block, while their dates will be given in the new building. The OPDs of radiotherapy and dental services will also not shift to the new block.

Moreover, the building also does not have adequate space for Central Registration Department (CRD) despite having 22 registration points. Provision for reception is also not adequate to meet the basic requirements. Some also feel that in a day care centre, there was no need for five operation theatres and the space could have been better utilised.

While there seems to be no solution for these problems at the time, the fact remains that with its spacious, hygienic and congenial environment, the new block is proving to be a welcome relief from overcrowding, for both the patients as well as the doctors.

Seminar on extraocular diseases
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
More than 100 doctors from Chandigarh and the surrounding areas attended a seminar on the extraocular diseases of the eye held today under the aegis of the Chandigarh Ophthalmological Society.

Dr Ashok Grover, Head of the Eye Department, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, who was the main speaker, emphasised the need for more work by ophthalmologists in the area of ptosis and dacryocystits. Speakers at the seminar included Dr Ashok Sharma and Dr Usha Singh from PGI and Dr Rohit Grover and Dr Joginder Singh.

SPORT

Sanjiv’s ton helps LIC club win
Our Sports Reporter

Chandigarh, March 25
The LIC Sports Club trounced the Punjab Secretariat Club by 68 runs in the fifth UT league cricket tournament played here today at the CSIO cricket grounds. The chief architect of LIC’s victory was Sanjiv, who made an unbeaten 118 runs.

Earlier, LIC won the toss and elected to bat. But they lost wickets quickly. Finally, Sanjiv and Rajesh Patha put up a valiant score by contributing unbeaten 118 runs and 48 runs, respectively. The score finally read 271 runs in the stipulated 35 overs.

In reply, Vishwas Gabba was able to score 85 runs, but in vain as rest of the team did not support him well. Ultimately, the team was bundled out for 203 runs in 28.3 overs.

Brief scores:
LIC SC: 271 runs for five wickets in 35 overs (Sanjiv 118 n.o., Rajesh Patha 48, Amit Uniyal 37, Ajay Manu 17 n.o.)

Pb Sectt: 203 runs all out in 28.3 overs (Vishwas Gabba 85, Ricky Singh 31, Rajesh Patha 3 for 21, Kulbir Singh 2 for 27, Lakhwinder Singh 2 for 32, Amit Uniyal 2 for 42).

Dr RP Bajpai, Director, CSIO, inaugurated the match.

Chess title for Navin

Naveen Bansal clinched the chess title in the Chandigarh Open Chess tournament held today at Jawahar Naodya Vidyala in Sector 25 today. The meet was organised by the Chandigarh Chess Association.

The points position was as follows: 5 points: Naveen Bansal , Abhinandan Vohra.

4.5 points: Sanjiv Biswas; 4 pts: Ashwani, Anil Raina, Nitin, Manmohan Singh. 3.5 pts: Kanwar Sandeep, NK Arora, Piyush Pandey, Baij Nath; 3 pts: Mandeep Singh, Anmol Razdan, A Dey, Vipen Negi, Rohit Chodha, Mohit Malhotra and Rajan Vij. 2 pts: Rajneesh, Vivek, GR Kaushal, Ranjit and Hiten Kapila. 1.5 pts: Mohinder. one pt: Amrish.

GMCH-32 winner

The Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, bagged the cricket title in the All-India Medi-Cricket tournament here today at PCA stadium, SAS Nagar. GMCH Chandigarh defeated Government Medical College, Amritsar, by seven wickets.

Brief scores: GMC Asr: 164 all out in 29.4 overs (Mahesh 55, Anoop 2 for 32) GMCH-32: 165 runs for three in 26.4 overs (Geetinder 39, Nishant 37).

Nishant Sachdeva was declared man of the match. Rohit Sharma was adjudged the best bowler, while Vishal Mittal the best batsman. Anoop Kumar was declared the man of the tournament.

In the table tennis event, Amit Munjal won the title, while Mahesh was the runners-up. Rakhi bagged the women’s title and Smriti was the runners- up. Government Medical College, Patiala, won the team event.

Mohit and Kavish won men’s doubles and Rakhi and Maninder won women’s doubles title in table tennis.

In carrom, Vinod Kataria of Rohtak won the title while Manoj was the runners-up. In chess, Manoj Kataria and Ravinder secured first and secondplace, respectively. SGRD Amritsar won six a side cricket meet while GMC Amritsar won the volleyball title.

Harsimran, Shveta win

Harsimran Singh Brar and Shveta Suneja emerged winners in the 1000-m time trial events in the Chandigarh cycling championships held today at the Panjab University grounds in men’s and women’s categories respectively.

Results:2000 M Indvl Pursuit-U-16:Vivek Sharma (DAVC-10) 1, Reagan (St Kabir-26) 2, Vaibhav (Shishu Niketan-22) 3.

3000 m massed start boys-U-16: Reagan Madan (St Kabir-26) 1, Vaibhav (SN-22) 2, Akash Dhillon (St Anne’s-32) 3.

500 m TT U-14: Gurnoor Kang (KV-47) 1, Sukhman Ghuman (CC-9) 2, Kalyani (SN-22) 3. boys: Abhinav (St Xavier’s-44) 1, Amanpreet Singh (GMSSS-44)2, Vaibhav (SN-22) 3. 1000 m indvl pursuit boys: U-14: Abhinav 1, Vaibhav 2, Sumit Ahuja 3.

Five lap cross country massed start race: men:Vitul 1, Amrinder Pal 2, Parmod 3. three-lap cross country massed start race:women:Gurnoor Kang 1, Shveta Suneja 2, Sukhman Ghuman 3. Junior men: Akash 1, Bimaljit Singh 2, Amandeep 3.

1000 m TT men: Harsmran Brar 1,Akram 2, Amrinder Pal Singh 3. 4000 M indvl Pursuit: men: Rohit Sharma 1, Paramvir Singh 2, Akram 3. 5000 m massed start men: Rohit Sharma 1, Ankur Kaul 2, Akram 3. 1000 m TT women: Shveta Suneja 1, Gurnoor Kang 2, Sukhman Ghuman 3. 1000 m TT boys:Ankur Kaul 1, Harsimran Brar 2, Vivek Sharma 3. 4000 m Indvl Purs. boys under 18:Ankur Kaul 1, Ajit Singh 2, Harsimran Brar 3. 5000 m massed start boys under18: Ajit Singh 1, Vineet 2, Kavish 3. 500 m TT boys under 16: Vivek Sharma 1, Akash Dhillon 2, Himanshu 3. 1500 m team time trial: City Cyclists club 1, DAV College-10 2, SD Club-32 3.

ADMINISTRATION

F & CC meeting postponed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 25
The Finance and Contract Committee (F and CC) of the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed. A decision with regard to the new date will be taken later, it is learnt.