Chandigarh: Work on emergency & trauma centre at GMCH-32 continues to drag

Green-lit in 2019, the 259-bedded emergency and trauma centre at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has run into one hurdle after the other. The plan outlined the completion of the 259-bedded emergency and trauma block within 18 months post the allocation of work, with the deadline being set for February 2022, but the work is still incomplete. The facility assumes significance as the only operational trauma centre catering to the patients and victims of natural/man-made disasters, road accidents and other major immediate medical needs is at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research. Medical superintendent Sudhir Garg said, “We have not been given a new deadline by the engineering department, but the contractor assures us that the work will conclude by June, with only minor flooring tasks remaining.” GMCH-32 attends to patients not only from Chandigarh but those from neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh as well. A cutting-edge intensive care unit with 24 beds, a 64-bedded ward for stable patients, two isolation wards comprising 33 beds, and a 47-bed ambulatory care ward are part of the upcoming plans.