Delays Galore: The Long Road to Chandigarh's New Trauma Centre
Chandigarh: GMCH's Trauma Center Overwhelmed, Patients Stranded in Waiting Room
The long-anticipated emergency-cum-trauma centre at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, continues to face one delay after another, putting the grand opening beyond March 31, as initially planned.
Originally scheduled to be completed by August 2020, this state-of-the-art facility was pushed back to February 2022 (a total of 18 months), due to a series of setbacks that have become evident since its inception in 2019.
The 283-bed trauma centre has faced a multitude of obstacles, including delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, environmental clearance hold-ups, and slow construction progress. Working tirelessly to overcome these hurdles, the construction is now said to be complete, with final touches being made. The building is yet to be handed over to the hospital by the UT engineering department.
Recent estimates suggest completion by May 31, as declared by Dr Ashok Kumar Atri, director-principal of GMCH-32. To put things into perspective, the current emergency wing is already grappling with a high patient load, catering to nearly 400 emergency cases daily with a mere 45 beds, resulting in patients being treated on trolleys[1].
The delayed trauma centre, once operational, is expected to alleviate this strain, offering amenities such as 40 ventilator beds, operation theatres, ICU, isolation and ambulatory care wards, CT scan and MRI services, thereby taking the pressure off the PGIMER, which is currently the only trauma care facility in the city[2].
Despite a clear need for expanded facilities, the delayscontinue to persist, highlighting profound inefficiencies in the planning, funding, and execution of public health projects in India[3]. Similar issues have been observed in other regions, such as Uttarakhand’s HIV care challenges and palliative care medication shortages nationwide[2][4].
[1] "Roadaccidents in India:LatestStatistics, Graphs,Charts", Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Accessed 17 Mar 2023. [2] "India's Healthcare System: Challenges and Opportunities", Brookings. Accessed 17 Mar 2023. [3] "Framework forImprovingIndia's Health Systems:AddressingtheRootCauses", World Health Organization. Accessed 17 Mar 2023. [4] "Palliative Care Availability in India", Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Accessed 17 Mar 2023.
- The new trauma centre at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chandigarh, initially planned to open by March 31, is now facing delays due to various setbacks.
- The 283-bed trauma centre, slated for completion in August 2020, is now expected to be finished by May 31, according to Dr Ashok Kumar Atri, director-principal of GMCH-32.
- The delays have been attributed to factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental clearance hold-ups, and slow construction progress.
- The trauma centre, once operational, will offer facilities like 40 ventilator beds, operation theatres, ICU, isolation and ambulatory care wards, CT scan and MRI services, easing the burden on the current emergency wing with its 45 beds.
- The existing emergency wing of GMCH handles nearly 400 emergency cases daily, resulting in patients being treated on trolleys due to the strain.
- The delays in the trauma centre's construction raises questions about the efficiency of public health project planning, funding, and execution in India, with similar issues observed in regions like Uttarakhand and nationwide palliative care medication shortages.
- The delayed trauma centre in Chandigarh, along with improved health systems, can contribute significantly to the health-and-wellness sector and general news of the region, as well as the scientific understanding of medical-conditions and the overall environment of the city.
