Chemo specialist shifted from Kullu hospital within 6 months, locals upset

After getting chemotherapy facility for merely six months at the Regional Hospital here, cancer patients will now have to visit IGMC, Shimla, or other hospital out of the state for treatment as the specialist doctor has been transferred.

Among three doctors who have been transferred recently from the RH include chemotherapy specialist Dr Reema Ghai. The cancer patients will now have to either go to Shimla or Chandigarh for the treatment.

The Regional Hospital also caters to patients from three other districts, including Lahaul & Spiti and part of Mandi and Chamba. About 40 patients are undergoing chemotherapy at the hospital. Now, they will have to spend their time and money for going to other hospitals for the treatment.

Chief Medical Officer Dr NR Panwar said after three doctors were transferred from the Kullu hospital, a demand was raised with the Health Directorate to fill the vacant posts. “The Directorate has been informed that the transfer of a trained doctor will affect the services of chemotherapy,” he added.

Meanwhile, residents said the Kullu RH was already overburdened and the government had failed to depute staff for the 100-bed new Maternal and Child Health (MCH) section for the past over two years.

Varun, a local, said the transfer of three doctors from among 37 medical officers will put extra burden on the hospital and the patients will be the ultimate sufferers.

During his visit here the Dasehra festival, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had announced that staff would be soon notified and deputed in the MCH section. Doctors and nurses would be appointed as per international standards in all the model health institutions, he had added.

The residents lamented that contrary to the assurances by the CM, three doctors, including sole chemotherapy specialist, had been transferred from the Regional Hospital.