PGIMS launches inter-ward cleanliness contest in Rohtak

Under fire for “insanitary” conditions, Pt BD Sharma PGIMS has introduced a new initiative to improve hygiene in its wards — an inter-ward cleanliness and best-practice competition involving nurses and staff responsible for sanitation and upkeep.

The competition will be held on December 5 and 6 across the PGIMS campus, and senior nurses posted at various wards have already been informed. Anticipating inspections, many wards have begun intensive cleaning drives to secure higher scores.

PGIMS Medical Superintendent (MS) Dr Kundan Mittal, along with a team of officials, will inspect all wards over the two days. Results will be announced afterwards, and University of Health Sciences, Rohtak (UHSR) Vice-Chancellor Dr HK Aggarwal will present prizes and certificates. Two awards — Best Clean Ward and Most Improved Ward — will be given.

Although PGIMS officials conduct routine inspections to monitor sanitation, conditions in several wards remain unsatisfactory. Visitors often encounter foul odours from toilets, poorly laid bedsheets, pieces of used medical gauze left unattended and attendants eating or leaving food inside wards. PGIMS authorities maintain that sweeping and cleaning are carried out multiple times a day.

“The initiative aims to promote excellence in ward hygiene, nursing care practices, record maintenance, and day-to-day operational standards across PGIMS. The assessment will cover four key parameters: cleanliness, hospital records, routine practices, and nursing care,” said Dr Mittal.

He said the cleanliness component would cover environmental hygiene, sanitation, waste management and facility upkeep. Record maintenance would assess the completeness and accuracy of 26 mandatory nursing-station registers. Daily operational practices would be evaluated across admission and discharge procedures, medication protocols, infection-control measures and staff coordination. Nursing care would be judged on patient assessment, care planning, clinical delivery and safety outcomes.

“The competition carries 100 marks, with each parameter allotted 25. A standardised rubric will be used for scoring. This is a supportive assessment meant to highlight strengths and areas needing improvement — not a punitive exercise. Immediate feedback will be shared to help staff take corrective actions,” Dr Mittal added. He said the awards are intended to motivate staff across all wards to maintain hygiene and proper documentation consistently.