Health Minister reaffirms his commitment to make Civil Hospital's ICU operational

During his visit to Civil Hospital, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh reaffirmed his commitment to making the hospital's ICU operational and launching a neonatal intensive care unit by January 2025. These promises echo similar announcements made in 2023, which have yet to materialise. The ICU, which was set up during the Covid-19 pandemic and equipped with ventilators, was staffed at the time but became non-operational as the situation normalised and the employees were sent back to their place of postings. The ventilators remain unused due to a shortage of trained personnel.

In September 2023, a team from the Health Department, including Dr Hitinder Kaur, Director of Health Services, and experts from Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), reviewed the facility at the hospital, but the ICU remains non-functional due to staffing issues.

The Health Minister also addressed the ongoing investigation into a major medicine scam at Aam Aadmi Clinics, where bills for medicines worth crores were approved without the actual delivery of the supplies. “The investigation is being conducted by the vigilance bureau and strict action would be taken against those responsible once the report is finalised,” he said.

The Health Minister reported that 98 per cent of patients at Aam Aadmi Clinics have expressed satisfaction with the services, emphasising the government's ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services. He also promised to resolve the shortage of doctors and specialists at Civil Hospital within 15 days, ensuring that patients no longer need to travel to other cities for treatment. By January 2025, he said, the hospital will be fully upgraded with state-of-the-art facilities, and patient feedback will be continuously sought to address any shortcomings.