Shimla, Dec 7 – The Himachal Pradesh High Court has slammed the government over the dire state of the Level-I Trauma Centre at IGMC Shimla, calling it a "shameful reflection of administrative indifference."
Acting Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan minced no words, terming the crisis a wake-up call that cannot be ignored anymore.
The court demanded an action plan from top health officials, including the Principal Secretary (Health), IGMC Principal, and Director of Medical Education, after they failed to justify the crippling staff shortages during a previous hearing.
Staff Shortage: A Life-Threatening Crisis
The court exposed glaring gaps in staffing that have rendered the trauma centre nearly non-functional:
- Neurosurgeons: Required: 4, In Position: 2
- Plastic Surgeons: Required: 1, In Position: 0
- Radiologists: Required: 2, In Position: 1
- Staff Nurses: Sanctioned: 110, Posted: 0
Shockingly, only 179 of the required 237 staff members are on duty, with critical positions like OT Technicians and MRI Technicians left vacant.
Nursing staff, essential for trauma care, are reduced to less than half of the sanctioned strength.
Meanwhile it needs to be mentioned here that recently a head injury patient from Chopal succumbed as there was no ICU room available for the surgery at IGMC and patient was rushed to the private hospital, Sparsh, near ISBT where he died and the hospital charged hefty Rs 3.5 lakh from the helpless family.
Broken Promises and Bureaucratic Red Tape
The state government has committed to filling nursing and paramedical vacancies by January 31, 2025, and remaining posts by March 31, 2025. But the High Court was unimpressed, citing repeated delays since its 2019 directive to make the centre functional.
Despite ₹12 crore allocated for essential machinery and equipment, only ₹4.79 crore has been spent. Vital tools for surgery, orthopaedics, and radiology are still missing, leaving the facility to function as an extension of the emergency department, incapable of handling complex trauma cases.
Construction Chaos: Incomplete, Inaccessible, and Unusable
The additional Trauma Block, sanctioned at ₹895 lakh, is a classic example of government inefficiency:
- Construction started years ago but remains incomplete.
- Internal works are pending, and designs are still under revision.
- A land dispute has stalled the access road, leaving the building disconnected from the highway.
The Public Works Department (HPPWD) has yet to hand over completed blocks to IGMC, despite repeated reminders.
Court’s Scathing Remarks
Justice Chauhan expressed his "distress" over the lack of urgency in addressing public health needs, declaring that the government's failure has "compromised patient care."
The court directed officials to resolve the land dispute, expedite equipment procurement, and fill critical vacancies immediately. A status report is expected by the next hearing on January 2, 2025.
Wake-Up Call for the Govt
This crisis is not just a story of delayed buildings or vacant posts—it’s about lives hanging by a thread due to systemic failures.
A trauma centre meant to save critical patients now stands as a grim symbol of neglect. The people of Himachal Pradesh deserve better than unfulfilled promises and administrative apathy.
The High Court’s intervention has reignited hope, but the real test lies in whether the government can finally deliver on its commitments—or if the tragedy of delayed healthcare will continue to haunt the state.
