The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

HEALTH

Third delivery likely to cost more
at General Hospital
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8
The UT Health Department has an innovative proposal up its sleeve to curb population explosives. The General Hospital, Sector 16, which carries out more deliveries per year than the PGI, GMCH, Sector 32 and private nursing homes and institutions put together has struck upon a bright idea to charge all those having a third child more than the first and the second delivery as a move to encourage the family planning campaign.

Sources say the hospital authorities have decided to revoke their long standing practice taking of “nominal” charges for deliveries in the hospital. The decision being taken in view of control the population states that the hospital will now not allow any “ subsidised delivery “ for those having a third child. In fact, the couples will have to pay more for their third issue (although even this “heavy” payment would be much “light” when compared with rates in the PGI and the GMCH-32).”

Incidentally, the General Hospital charges as less as Rs 116 for each delivery. After the decision comes through, though the first and the second delivery cases will continue to cost as much, those having a third baby will have to pay about Rs 350.

However, as compared to other government establishments in the city the difference in the delivery charges is tremendous. Both the GMCH, Sector 32 and the PGI follow their individual fee structures. The GMCH,charges according to the monthly income of the patients. Those with a monthly income of Rs 3,500 are charged Rs 400, Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,500 are charged Rs 1,000 and those earning Rs 7,500 and more are charged Rs 2,000 per delivery.

For every normal delivery, the PGI charges Rs 500 for the general and Rs 1,000 for the private ward. For a caesarean section delivery, the hospital charges Rs 1,000 in general and Rs 2,000 in the private ward. Besides this, patients also charged an additional Rs 35 in general and Rs 800 in private ward per day. Moreover the institute takes in only the first and the complicated delivery cases.

The private nursing homes charge much more depending upon the individual case and the facilities provided.

The step, although a little vague at present , needs to be taken seriously, at least in view of the outstanding purpose it seeks to achieve in the long term. But how successful will the latest module be is yet to be seen, given the fact that mothers in the general hospital, especially those belonging to the lower income groups have been known to quietly whisk away their newly-borns, without actually making any payment. The hospital administration is also constantly pestered with requests for concession even for the nominal fee it charges per delivery.

When contacted the UT Director Health Services, Dr Rameshwar Chander said considering the ever rising population such changes are a must.” If the parents can afford a child, they should also be able to take care of the hospital charges, “ he added.

As far as the deliveries are concerned, the pressure in the Sector 16 General Hospital is tremendous. The Hospital records as many as 10,000 to 12,000 normal and about 1,500 cesarean births every year. Just three nights back, more than two dozen babies were born in the hospital.

The gynaecology department of the General Hospital, which with its 11 doctors is clearly understaffed can hope for some respite once the 25-bed maternity ward in the Sector 22 polyclinic becomes operational. At present babies literally continue to pour in the city via the General Hospital and at times its 36- bed maternity ward has to accommodate more than one patient on every bed.

Another cholera case reported in city
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 8
Another cholera case was reported in the city today. The patient has been admitted to the General Hospital, Sector 16.

Lately there has been a spurt of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea cases in the city. Cholera is the more acute form of diarrhoea and a few cases have recently been reported from the city slums and colonies.

Meanwhile, five of the six persons suspected to be suffering from Dengue were discharged after they were found to be suffering from malaria. The ITBP personnel all belonging to Jalandhar had been admitted to the PGI medical OPD about four days back.

SPORTS

Suruchi holds promise in skating
Our Sports Correspondent

Chandigarh, August 8
Suruchi Chandel, at 13 years of age, has swiftly moved upwards on the ranking of the skatinggraph of Haryana. She is now in the final camp for the selection of Indian roller skating team which is going to be held here from August 10.

The class-VIII girl is a student of Satluj Public School, Sector 4, Panchkula. She said, “It was last year when my game began showing signs of improvement”.

Suruchi, who belongs to Himachal Pradesh, said it was two years back when she started learning the finer points of the game from Balwinder Singh Johal at Hansraj Skating Club. Later, another caoch, Bhupinder began to supervise her game.

She said her past achievements include winning a medal each in the National School Games in 2000 and at the Haryana Skating Championship at Faridabad. Prior to this, she had also played in the various district level and inter school meets and helped her team win. She said her present ideal was her senior, Meenakshi Kohli, who had twice represented the Indian women skating team and was also awarded the best fighter award in the last Asian meet held at China. Suruchi said she had absorbed a number of bright ideas from her style of play. She said in the camp held at Chandigarh in June, she was able to overcome her weaknesses which included dodging, dribbling and controlling ball. She said these camps played a pivotal role and if one worked hard then much improvement in the game could be noticed.

Suruchi was deeply grateful to her school principal, Mr Krit Serai, who is a keen sports lover and has supported her with encouragement and awarded her the school sports scholarship with 100 per cent fee exemption.

Suruchi, who scored 85 per cent marks in her previous class, said she had been aiming at joining medical profession and wanted to balance both sports and studies. Her sister, Samriti of class VII of the same school, is also moulding into a good skater and her younger brother studying in class II is also a regular in skating at junior wing of his school.

She said skating was much liked by her parents who always encourage her. She said the concentration in skating helped her in focus on studies.