Mani Majra Civil Hospital adds feather to its cap

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 29

The Civil Hospital in Mani Majra has become the first health facility in the city to introduce total knee replacement surgery.

Talking to The Tribune, Dr Rakesh Kumar, orthopaedician, said, “The operation theatre is equipped with all basic facilities. It is the first Civil Hospital in the periphery to introduce total knee and hip replacement surgeries.”

Raj Ratan (62), a resident of Daria village, was the first patient, whose both knees were replaced, he said. She was suffering from osteoporosis and unable to walk for the past two to three years, he added.

She was admitted to the hospital on June 17 and the surgery was performed the next day, he said while adding that after post-surgery stay at the hospital, she was discharged on June 25.

On hip replacement, Dr Kumar said the first hip replacement surgery was performed on a 60-year-old woman, who came to the hospital with fractured neck of femur bone. Her hip was also replaced successfully, he added.

The cost of these surgeries at the Civil Hospital is nearly half of the amount being charged by private hospitals. Besides Civil Hospital at Mani Majra, such surgeries are being performed at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

After the Civil Hospital was upgraded to 100-bed hospital nearly six years ago, several medical facilities, including mother and child care, orthopaedic, ENT, gynaecology, paediatric, psychiatry, dermatology, ayurveda, homoeopathy and others were introduced to provide better healthcare to people living in the surrounding areas of the City Beautiful.

“After the upgrade, nearly 200 to 250 deliveries are performed every month at the Civil Hospital. This number was nearly 10 six years ago,” said a doctor on the condition of anonymity.

The hospital also has an ECG, ultrasound and X-ray facilities apart from pharmacy and ambulance services.

Sources said the hospital was short-staffed as several posts were lying vacant in various departments. There was only one technician to conduct ECGs in the whole hospital and sometimes, patients were being referred to the GMSH-16, the sources added.

However, on the shortage of staff, Dr G Dewan, Director, Health Services, Chandigarh, said, “The posts are sanctioned as per the norms. According to the rule, one post of ECG technician is sanctioned for 100-bed hospital. However, doctors and paramedics are given in house training for various activities in order to screen patients.”

The staff at the Mani Majra Civil Hospital was working overtime to provide the best possible healthcare services to patients, he added.

An official at the hospital said, “Nearly 1,000 patients visit the hospital on normal days. The patient footfall could increase from 1,000 to 1,200 on Mondays and Tuesdays.”

The hospital has also introduced token system in order to do away with long queues at the OPDs.

Ram Karan (50), a resident of Vikas Nagar, said he had come to the Gynaecology Department with his daughter-in-law around 11am. Expressing satisfaction, he said despite a long queue, his daughter-in-law was examined by 12.30 pm.

Amardeep, who works at a shop in Mani Majra, had come to the hospital with his brother. He said things had improved a lot since the hospital was upgraded.