Panchkula civil hospital set for ‘corrective surgery' as Haryana govt releases funds
2
3
4
Panchkula: Under scrutiny for its bad condition, the civil hospital in Sector 6 is set for a major facelift as renovation and repair work officially began. With the state govt releasing dedicated funds, the public works department (PWD) commenced comprehensive revamp efforts aimed at modernising the hospital infrastructure and enhancing patient care.
According to officials, the entire hospital complex will be renovated. Key focus areas include repairing the leaking roof of the emergency block, fixing widespread seepage issues in different parts of the hospital, and securing loose electrical wiring. Additionally, efforts will be made to strengthen the hospital's weak online connectivity signals.
Basic amenities are also on the list for urgent upgrades. The toilets, reportedly in a severely deteriorated condition, will be fully renovated.
The old sewerage pipeline will be repaired, and entry points for rainwater seepage will be sealed. A large-scale repair and recarpeting of internal roads will also be undertaken. Parking facilities are being redesigned for better space management.
A major update is planned for D Block, where central air conditioning will replace aging window units. To meet fire safety norms and obtain the Fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) for its D block, the hospital will also be equipped with water sprinklers, fire hoses, and smoke detectors.
"This is a comprehensive revamp. We received funds and the PWD already started the work. Different tenders will be floated for different components of the project by the PWD," said Chief Medical Officer Dr Mukta Kumar after an inspection of the hospital.
The upgrade is expected to improve both patient experience and working conditions for staff, while aligning the hospital with updated health and safety standards.
Box: Issues at hospital
It may be mentioned here that TOI earlier highlighted the hospital's bad condition in its report. Also, earlier, noting "health is a basic human right of every citizen", which must be provided in all hospitals, the Haryana Human Rights Commission directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Haryana, to depute a senior officer to look into the complaint about the poor condition of the hospital.
In this complaint to the Commission, Complainant SK Nayar, President of Panchkula Citizens Welfare Association, stated that the functioning of the hospital is in a very dilapidated condition for the last few years. Following an inspection of the hospital, he complained that the roofs of doctors' rooms and patient wards are leaking, and there is a lot of neglect in regular maintenance of the building and its surrounding areas.
There is no proper place for garbage. The toilets in the hospital are in a very shabby state and are locked by the authorities, causing problems for patients and their attendants. Whenever there is a power supply failure, there is no light for the emergency ward, ICU, and maternity wards, causing a lot of inconvenience for patients. Security arrangements are not proper in the hospital, he alleged.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Food Safety Department mandates consumer feedback apps for sweet shops in Prayagraj to enhance transparency
PRAYAGRAJ: Officials of the Food Safety Department have made consumer satisfaction feedback apps compulsory for sweet shop owners, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability in the food industry, benefiting consumers in Sangam city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Around 100 prominent sweet shop owners in the city have been asked to promote the app among consumers as the move is part of a broader effort by food safety authorities to leverage technology for better regulation and grievance redressal. With its implementation, the department intends to ensure food businesses prioritise consumer feedback and address any issues related to food safety and hygiene promptly. A senior official of the Food Safety Department told TOI that the department has asked traders associated with the Prayagraj Sweets & Namkeen Welfare Association to promote the consumer satisfaction feedback app ahead of the festival. He added that traders associated with the organisation are briefed about the customer satisfaction feedback that has been made mandatory to be displayed at the shop. Besides, displaying the standards of the Oil Board (which food contains how much oil) and the Sugar Board (which food contains how much sugar) has also been made mandatory at the shops. Shopkeepers were also motivated to keep the amount of food colour at a low level in sweets and namkeen bakery products. Moreover, the department has also initiated an awareness campaign against obesity. Ankit Gupta, owner of a prominent sweet shop, told TOI that they are promoting consumer satisfaction feedback on the Food Safety Connect app among consumers and have installed banners and posters at their installations. He added that the majority of traders associated with the Prayagraj Sweet & Namkeen Welfare Association are installing details of the app at their respective shops. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gupta, meanwhile, said they are also taking part in creating awareness against obesity, claiming that obesity has undoubtedly become a major public health challenge, affecting people across all age groups and increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Driven by unhealthy diets, sedentary lifestyles, and environmental factors, obesity is rising at an alarming rate among citizens of all age groups, impacting both urban and rural populations. The shift towards processed foods, reduced physical activity, and lifestyle changes has further contributed to the crisis. Pointedly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through his Mann Ki Baat programme, also emphasised the need to create awareness and collective action to reduce obesity, particularly through lower edible oil consumption. This call for collective action highlights the importance of tackling obesity at both individual and community levels, reinforcing the need for a fitter and healthier India. The union govt is promoting healthier lifestyles, better nutrition, and physical activity through various schemes and programmes aiming to encourage long-term behavioural change, ensuring a healthier future for all.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
From 'mild jaundice' to liver transplants: How Hepatitis A is turning deadly for adults in India
Hepatitis viruses B and C have long been regarded as the more dangerous members of the hepatitis family due to their association with liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, hepatologists in Mumbai are now observing a surprising shift in the pattern of infections. While new Hepatitis C cases are dwindling, Hepatitis A, once associated primarily with mild childhood jaundice, is now causing severe illness in adults. 'Hepatitis A is emerging as a major threat, causing significant liver disease in adults and, in rare cases, liver failure,' said Dr Akash Shukla, head of gastroenterology at the BMC-run KEM Hospital, Parel, and a member of the technical resource group for the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme , in an interview with The Times of India (TOI). Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree Finance Leadership healthcare Product Management Operations Management Public Policy CXO Project Management Others Data Analytics Technology Healthcare Data Science Digital Marketing Management Data Science MCA PGDM Artificial Intelligence others MBA Cybersecurity Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details Dr Aabha Nagral, senior hepatologist, concurred, telling TOI, 'As living standards improve in India, especially in urban centres like Mumbai, many individuals are not exposed to the Hepatitis A virus in childhood. As a result, they don't develop immunity, and adult infections can be much more severe.' Hepatitis C: On the Brink of Elimination? Since the introduction of direct-acting antiviral treatment under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme in July 2018, doctors report a drastic fall in new Hepatitis C infections. 'New cases are becoming rare, which suggests the national programme has been effective,' Dr Shukla told TOI. According to data from Maharashtra's health department, over 28 lakh people were tested for Hepatitis C in 2024–2025, with 9,476 testing positive. Of these, 2,102 have commenced the curative three-month course. By comparison, only 1,339 Hepatitis C cases were recorded in 2021–2022. Live Events Dr Parijat Gupte, a gastroenterologist at Jupiter Hospital in Thane, attributed the drop to improved screening at blood banks and increased public awareness. 'There are virtually no new infections. We recommend that people who underwent blood transfusions before 2000 get tested, as they can now be treated and cured,' he said. Doctors remain optimistic that Hepatitis C could be eliminated by 2030, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) targets. Hepatitis B Remains a Major Concern While progress has been made on Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B remains a formidable challenge. WHO has set a goal of reducing hepatitis cases by 95% by 2030, but experts believe that Hepatitis B could take 'a decade or more' to show meaningful decline. 'Hepatitis B is one of the most infectious viruses, with a tendency to reactivate. Current treatment aims to suppress the virus rather than eliminate it,' Dr Shukla explained to TOI. State health data reveals that confirmed Hepatitis B cases rose sharply, from 9,000 in 2021–2022 to over 65,000 in 2024–2025, including 23,000 among pregnant women. Dr Sharan Shivaji Narute from Medicover Hospitals, Pune, highlighted the case of a 53-year-old man who required a liver transplant after battling chronic Hepatitis B. 'At one point, we were draining up to 13 litres of fluid from his body each session. In June 2024, his son donated a portion of his liver. The transplant was a success,' he said. Testing Uptick and Expanded Access Increased testing capacity is reshaping India's hepatitis outlook. Shiva Sriram of Molbio Diagnostics told TOI that improved diagnostics have made a significant impact. Their Truenat machines saw a 150% rise in Hepatitis B tests (from 3,060 to 7,705) and a five-fold jump in Hepatitis C tests (from 475 to 2,475) between 2023–24 and 2024–25 in Maharashtra. Though tests for Hepatitis A and E remain relatively low despite seasonal spikes, especially during monsoon, Sriram anticipates this will change as the Union Government is reportedly planning to deploy Truenat machines to all 40,000 primary health centres in the next two years. Pregnant Women at Increased Risk Doctors warn that pregnant women are especially vulnerable to Hepatitis A and E, which are primarily spread through contaminated food and water. A recent case in Pune underscored the risk. A 32-year-old pregnant woman admitted with vomiting and fever was initially misdiagnosed with morning sickness. Elevated liver enzymes revealed it was Hepatitis A. 'She had a history of eating food from outside. Her eyes and urine were bright yellow. Fortunately, she responded well to intravenous fluids and medication,' said Dr Padma Srivastava, her gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospitals, in a statement to TOI. Dr Nitin Gupte, gynaecologist at Apollo Spectra in Pune, added that 2 to 3 out of every 10 pregnant women in his outpatient department show symptoms of hepatitis. 'It can even affect the unborn child,' he cautioned. Inputs from TOI
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- New Indian Express
APD's inclusive mission empowers over 26,000
BENGALURU: Unlike the one-time, piecemeal interventions like a single therapy camp, a wheelchair donation, or a disconnected pension scheme, extended to Persons with Disabilities (PwD), which provide only provide timely relief, The Association of People With Disability (APD) is focusing on 'Life Cycle Approach', under which tailored services to various age groups among PwDs are delivered guiding them along a developmental path aligned with specific timelines to achieve better outcomes. In the three-year project that started in 2022, in Yadgir and Raichur, Dr NS Senthil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer at APD, said that till now over 26,933 people have benefited. The beneficiaries received rehabilitation services, assistive devices, educational support, and livelihood opportunities, awareness and training, as well as indirect beneficiaries such as family members, carers, and community stakeholders, have been trained, sensitised, and empowered as part of the ecosystem. 'Main aim is to transform Yadgir and Raichur into a truly inclusive and supportive environment for PwD. Through a life-cycle approach, this mission seeks to empower individuals with access to comprehensive rehabilitation, their rightful entitlements, and opportunities to live with dignity and equality. At the heart of the program is a community-based rehabilitation model, which brings services directly to the people. This is complemented by a transdisciplinary approach and community-based rehab workers—bringing together expertise from various fields to address the full spectrum of needs,' Dr Senthil said.
