Defunct escalators cripple patients’ movement at GMCH-32

Mohit Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20

Six defunct escalators are testing the patience of patients at the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh. Women and elderly are the worst hit. Those suffering from arthritis are also at the receiving end.

While three escalators are lying defunct in Block C of the hospital, two are non-functional in Block B. One escalator in lying non-functional in Block A.

A hospital employee said the lifts were not working for the past several months. Some of these are lying non-functional for years.

“These lifts have outlived their life. As many as Rs 50 lakh will be spent on the installation of new lifts,”said a source.

However, the hospital authorities are not paying any heed to it. “Visiting, the orthopaedic, TB and paediatric wards is a difficult task. Either we have to jostle with other patients to use the lift or we have to use the ramp. Stairs are not an option,” said Tajinder Singh, a patient. 

A senior faculty complained that the lifts in Block B were lying defunct from the day these were installed.

“It is the failure of the GMCH administration,” said a senior faculty. Patients and their attendants  complained that no lift goes to the private rooms located on the seventh floor.

“There are nearly 70 private rooms on the seventh floor. If we need anything, we have no option but to use the ramp or stairs,” said the attendant of a patient.

When contacted, Arun Sharma of the IT department at the hospital admitted the problem of non- functional lifts. Despite repeated attempts, no one from the engineering wing was available for comments.