Punjab Government asked to submit status report regarding relocation of GMC & Rajindra Hospital Patiala by High Court......
Chandigarh: 15 February (Niel Bhalinder Singh) Taking up a PIL filed by one Jaspal Singh of village Mattran village, district Sangrur, the High Court bench of Chief Justice has sought a report from Government Health Department of Punjab. The PIL filed raised the issue of dangerous condition of Medial College and Hospital’s infrastructure. The state government had formed a program of shifting the functioning of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala from the old building to newly constructed modern building in its vicinity.
Rajindra Medical College & Hospital Patiala
The petitioner’s Counsel informed the Bench that most of functions of this College-cum-Hospital, which is a premier institution of Punjab, are being done from its old, dilapidated and unsafe building, despite the newly constructed modern building, in its vicinity, being available. Only the OPD (Out Patient Department) has been shifted to the first floor of the new building. The rest of the hospital is still functioning in the old structure, which could be fatal for the patients, doctors or staff members, in case of any mishap.
Rajindra Medical College & Hospital Patiala
The petitioner’s Counsel, had served a legal notice on the respondents (Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare etc) on 17th December 2018, calling upon them to shift entire functions of College and Hospital to the newly constructed modern building, but he did not receive any response. He brought it to the notice of the HC that on the morning of 31st Dec 2018, some slabs and bricks fell off the roof of Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, though there was luckily, no loss to life.
Rajindra Medical College & Hospital Patiala
The Counsel for the petitioner, brought this incident to the notice of Health Minister and supplied to him some photographs of fallen slabs and bricks etc. Even after reports of such a serious incident, no concrete steps appear to have been taken by the Minister also, as the College and Hospital are still functioning from old building. Besides, roofs of many rooms are prone to leakage during rains.
Rajindra Medical College & Hospital Patiala
The petitioner has also contended that the Hospital suffers from non-availability of the most basic medicines, pain-killers, anti-biotics, syringes and gauge, even in emergency ward. Pertaining to this shortage, poor patients have to purchase such items from market. The necessary consequence is that private hospitals in Patiala are flourishing. The State of Punjab has to submit status report within a week, and the PIL shall come up for resumed hearing ( to be listed in Urgent case) on 25th February 2019.
