Tanda now Covid hospital, cancer patients in lurch

Call to restart unit

Patients say that they were undergoing chemotherapy in the Tanda medical college

But they have not been able to complete their treatment as the facility has been closed

Many patients fear that a break in their chemotherapy can be life-threatening.

They demand that the unit in the hospital should be restarted at the earliest

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, May 31

The patients suffering from cancer in Kangra district are not getting treatment in Tanda medical college, the only facility for the patients in the lower Himachal region.

Many patients from Chachian, Mainjha and Kalund village today met Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati, along with their panchayat representatives, and demanded that the unit in the hospital should be restarted at the earliest.

The super-specialty wing has been lying closed since last month after the second wave of corona hit the district. The wing caters to cancer, cardio and neuro patients. However, it was converted into Covid hospital.

The patients alleged that they were undergoing chemotherapy in the Tanda medical college. But they have not been able to complete their treatment as the facility has been closed. Many patients feared that a break in their chemotherapy can be life-threatening.

Principal of Tanda medical college Dr Bhanu Awasthi said the treatment of cancer patients in the institute had been stopped temporarily due to rising Covid cases. Last year, they continued giving treatment to cancer patients even when the PGI had stopped its facilities.

He said the cases in Kangra district were now coming down and if the situation improves, they will be able to open the super-specialty wing soon. If some patients require immediate chemotherapy, they can go to IGMC-Shimla, he said.

Om Prakash, a patient, however, said the decision of the authorities to convert the hospital into Covid hospital was illogical. It had deprived many patients, suffering from morbid diseases, of treatment. He said the corona facility could have been created in any general or civil hospital as the administration wanted just oxygen-equipped beds for corona patients.