Shimla: Himachal Pradesh High Court has delivered a stern rebuke to the state government over the Atal Superspeciality Hospital at Chamyana, Shimla.
The court has directed an immediate halt to OPD services at the hospital, citing the severe inconveniences faced by patients due to poor road connectivity and logistical nightmares.
The high court has pulled up the state health department PWD and others for not facilitating connectivity and other basic facilities at Chamiyana.
As many six Superspeciality of urology, cardiology, gastroenterology and other have been shifted there.
The high court has sought report from the government and directed it to put all facilities there in two months time.
The hospital, touted as a multi-crore healthcare project, was supposed to alleviate the burden on the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) by shifting superspecialities like cardiology , gastroenterology etc to Chamiyana.
However, the reality on the ground has been far from the promises made.
Patients Stuck at the Crossroads
Patients seeking consultation at the newly established superspeciality hospital have found themselves in a bind, thanks to the narrow, traffic-jammed road leading from Bhatta Kufur to Chamyana.
This stretch, riddled with bottlenecks, has made emergency situations a harrowing experience, with many patients forced to endure long delays just to reach the hospital.
Adding to the chaos, patients requiring examination across multiple departments have had to shuttle between IGMC and Chamyana, a task made nearly impossible by the 5-7 kilometer distance and the convoluted road network.
This has not only placed an undue burden on patients but also raised serious concerns among the medical staff.
A Project Doomed from the Start?
The High Court’s order puts a glaring spotlight on the state government’s oversight in pushing forward with the hospital without proper feasibility studies.
The then Health Minister and officials involved in the project are now under fire for their apparent disregard for the practicalities of healthcare delivery.
There are talks that the dental college would be shifted to Chamiyana while superspeciality which are linked to the IGMC could be restored back.
The hospital’s location has become its Achilles' heel, turning what should have been a boon for Shimla’s healthcare system into a logistical nightmare.
Doctors Echo the Court’s Concerns
Doctors have voiced their frustrations as well, with many pointing out that the lack of coordination between IGMC and Chamyana has exacerbated the strain on both patients and healthcare providers.
The daily hassles of transportation and inter-facility referrals have rendered the purpose of the hospital moot, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
With the court now stepping in, the state government faces the challenge of rethinking its healthcare strategy and addressing the glaring issues that have turned this ambitious project into a debacle.
The future of the Atal Superspeciality Hospital hangs in the balance, with the government under pressure to make a rethink on the hospital.
