No evening OPDs at dispensaries, GMSH-16 for now

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 10

Due to manpower crunch, evening outpatient departments (OPDs) at the dispensaries in the city would not start for now, the UT Health Department informed the Advisory Council Committee on a recommendation of the double timings of dispensaries.

During a meeting held on Friday, the committee had recommended that evening OPDs be started at the dispensaries. Evening OPDs at the GMSH-16, which were operational before the Covid-19 outbreak, should also be started at an appropriate time. Earlier, evening OPDs at the GMSH-16 used to operate from 5 pm to 8 pm. UT Health Secretary Yashpal Garg said, “We may not be able to start evening OPDs at the GMSH-16 till the possibility of the third wave of Covid is ruled out. Regarding evening OPD at dispensaries, manpower crunch due to Covid-19 does not allow us to provide the facility at this moment.”

The committee had recommended that the civil dispensary at Maloya needed to be upgraded to a civil hospital. Presently, two health and wellness centres (HWCs) are functional at Maloya. The HWC at Jhanj Ghar was started in April this year and is being considered for its conversion into a hospital.

As per a decision of the UT Administration, a new multi-storeyed maternal and child wing was to come up after dismantling the present MCH building at the GMSH-16. The committee was informed that the plan of relocation of the MCH at the GMSH-16 to the Civil Hospital in Sector 22 was stalled due to the pandemic. Besides, a dedicated labour room for Covid positive expectant mothers was started and is functional.

Face recognition attendance

The committee recommended that biometric attendance be started at all health care facilities. Biometric attendance was introduced but had to be suspended in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The committee was informed that now face recognition attendance system will be introduced shortly.

Jan Aushadhi outlets

The committee had recommended opening of Jan Aushadhi outlets at the GMSH-16 and at the civil hospitals in Sector 22, 45 and Mani Majra. The Indian Red Cross Society had handed over the store sites at the civil hospitals in Sector 22, 45, Mani Majra and the GMSH-16 to the Health Department. The department has started the process of tendering the sites for the GMSH-16 and the civil hospitals at Mani Majra, Sector 22 and 45.

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