No OPD services at Chamiana hospital without safe road: Himachal High Court
The Himachal High Court has directed the state health authorities not to operate the OPD services at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialty (AIMSS) Hospital, Chamiana (Shimla), till a safe and motorable road is provided.
Passing the order, a division bench, comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Satyen Vaidya, further directed the state authorities to operate the OPD services only from the IGMC, Hospital, Shimla, till then.
It further directed the Secretary (Health) and the Superintending Engineer, Fourth Circle, HPPWD, Shimla, to file a status report on the progress of the works mentioned above by October 21.
The court passed these directions on a PIL, alleging that the government had opened Super Specialty Hospital, Chamiana, without providing basic amenities like proper road.
During the course of the hearing, the counsel for the state placed on record the report of the Secretary (Health), which reflected that only OPD services in respect of Super Specialty Departments ie cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, endocrinology, nephrology, urology, plastic surgery, cardio-thoracic and vascular surgery were being shifted to AIMSS Chamiana, Shimla, while other emergency and indoor patient services for the said departments had been provided at the IGMC, Shimla.
It further mentioned that there was no canteen/cafeteria in operation currently on the premises of AIMSS, Chamiana. There is also inadequate transportation facility for the staff and patients.
It was further stated that the Principal, IGMC, Shimla, had been directed to hire buses from the HRTC, but the latter appears to have refused to provide dedicated buses for the transport of medical staff due to its own shortage of buses and staff.
During hearing, it was brought to the notice of the court that in medical emergencies, the road connecting the hospital is also not in a good condition. Apart from this, there are no street-lights in the entire stretch of 3 km from Bhatakufar to Chamiana Hospital. Even the mobile connectivity in the region is also very poor, and no police post exists in the hospital. There was not even a chemist shop operating at AIMSS currently.
While passing the aforesaid order, the court observed that it would be desirable to defer the operation of the OPDs at the Super Specialty hospital in question at least till proper road connectivity is provided to the city of Shimla.
