Move to declare DDU hospital as Covid facility draws flak

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 12

The state health authorities’ move to declare the 300-bed Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) district hospital a dedicated Covid hospital has triggered public outcry as patients who suffer injuries and ailments have no other hospital to go to in the heart of the capital city.

People from the city, nearby villages and other parts of the district come for treatment in the OPDs of the DDU hospital. The hospital has been sealed and is empty as of now.

Residents living in the periphery of the hospital fear the move could prove to be dangerous for them. They said the DDU hospital was located in the heart of the city and the wholesale grain market and sabji mandi were nearby.

Last year, over 3.5 lakh patients got treatment at the DDU hospital. “We get over 1,000 to 1,200 patients everyday in the OPDs, which has been shut down and we have sealed all entry points to the hospital as per directions of the health authorities,” said medical superintendent Dr Lokinder Sharma.

He said the trained staff of nurses and doctors should be brought from the IGMC if DDU hospital was to be run as a Covid hospital as it was understaffed, unequipped and lacked logistic support to deal with the infection. “Training to handle Covid patients is being provided two hours everyday, but it is not sufficient,” he said.

“If somebody from Krishnagar, Lower Bazar and other areas need emergency medical services, they will have to go all the way to the IGMC,” rued Naresh Raj, a resident, who went back from the sealed DDU hospital.

The Indus Hospital should be made a Covid facility instead as it is located in isolation, demanded Sanjay Chauhan, former Shimla Mayor.

Neither Special Secretary, Health, Dr Nipum Jindal, nor Additional Chief Secretary, Health, RD Dhiman responded to queries in this regard.