Civil Hospital undergoes facelift ahead of Kayakalp assessment

A team comprising Dr Amarjeet Singh and Dr Vikram Sohar from Jalandhar visited the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, to conduct an assessment under the government’s Kayakalp scheme, which recognises and rewards hospitals maintaining high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control.

The evaluation is a part of a broader initiative to ensure public hospitals adhere to strict sanitation protocols.

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Akhil Sareen, who previously served at the Civil Hospital, Jagraon, one of the top-ranked hospitals under Kayakalp and National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), has been working tirelessly since his posting in Ludhiana to bring the facility to similar standards.

In preparation for the inspection, the Civil Hospital has undergone a significant facelift. Repair works, including sanitation, painting and electrical upgrades, have been carried out, alongside a massive clean-up drive. Patient-friendly signages have been installed and new parking regulations were enforced with earmarked zones for staff, ambulances, police vehicles, two-wheelers, patients and attendants. Security guards had been deployed to ensure smooth implementation while obstruction-free pathways for ambulances and multiple flex boards have also been introduced.

“The hospital has also created separate passages for pedestrians, wheelchairs and stretchers and revamped critical facilities, including the emergency ward, burns unit, cancer day care, palliative care, dengue and isolation ward complex. Major infrastructure upgrades are underway, including an overhaul of the sewerage system, installation of a new water tank expected next week, expansion of the MCH wing to be handed over next month and construction of a critical care block. Additionally, 1,000 plants have been planted to enhance the hospital’s eco-friendly environment,” said Dr Sareen.

The visiting team evaluated the facility across eight key areas — upkeep, sanitation and hygiene, waste management, infection control, support services, hygiene promotion, cleanliness beyond the hospital boundary and eco-friendly practices. The assessment included document reviews and interviews with staff and patients. Hospitals scoring 70 per cent or more in the external evaluation become eligible for awards, including cash prizes and certificates. The inspection not only sets benchmarks for improvement but also provides recognition to exemplary performers in public healthcare.