Chandigarh GMCH’s new trauma centre set to open in August

The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, is set to open its newly built trauma centre this August. The state-of-the-art facility, with a capacity of 259 beds, is expected to bolster the city’s burdened emergency services.

According to GMCH Medical Superintendent Dr GP Thami, while construction has been completed, the installation of medical equipment is still underway. He said a proposal to hold the trauma centre’s inauguration on the same day as the institute's 11th convocation has been submitted to the UT Administration. The name of the chief guest for the event is still under discussion.

Originally sanctioned in 2019 with an expected completion timeline of a year and a half, the trauma centre project faced significant delays during the Covid-19 pandemic. The project again gained urgency as the existing emergency block began operating beyond capacity. Authorities are optimistic that the new facility will ease overcrowding and allow the reallocation of the old emergency space for other departments.

With this, the city will also house two dedicated trauma centres — the other being at PGIMER — enhancing the region’s preparedness to handle critical emergencies.

The trauma centre is part of GMCH’s larger effort to bolster its emergency healthcare infrastructure. Currently, the hospital operates around 150 emergency and trauma beds combined, which often proves inadequate during peak hours. The existing emergency wing has long been unable to accommodate the growing patient load, leading to situations where patients were managed on stretchers in crowded corridors.

The new wing is expected to significantly improve patient care and response times.

The late Dr BS Chavan, the former director of GMCH, had secured funding of Rs 52 crore for the expansion, aiming to separate trauma care from general emergency services.

GMCH’s 11th convocation, previously postponed due to regional tensions at the Indo-Pak border, has been rescheduled for August 2. Initially it was supposed to happen on May 2 and Union Health Minister JP Nadda was expected to preside, but Minister of State Anupriya Patel had later been finalised as the guest of honour. Degrees in medicine, nursing, paramedical sciences and allied disciplines will be awarded during the ceremony.

In addition to the trauma centre launch, the hospital administration is also exploring options to utilise the vacated space in the main building for expanding the gynaecology department, which is facing persistent bed shortages.