SHIMLA, JULY 18:
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has once again exposed the state's failure to provide basic infrastructure at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties (AIMSS), Chamiana, with repeated judicial intervention still failing to ensure smooth access to the state's premier super-specialty hospital.
Expressing serious concern over persistent traffic bottlenecks, inadequate emergency transport and incomplete road infrastructure, the High Court observed that delays in reaching AIMSS Chamiana are compromising emergency medical care and putting patients' lives at risk.
Hearing a public interest litigation, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Justice Munish Thakur and Justice Bipin C. Negi directed the state government to immediately remove traffic congestion on the Dhalli Tunnel-Sanjauli-Chamiana route, stressing that the shortest approach to the hospital must remain free for ambulances, doctors and healthcare workers.
The court's latest directions come despite several earlier hearings on the deteriorating infrastructure around the hospital, indicating that the government's response has remained slow even after most super-specialty departments and indoor patient services were shifted from IGMC Shimla to Chamiana.
The Bench noted that traffic jams at Sanjauli were repeatedly delaying emergency patients during the critical "Golden Hour," while doctors and hospital staff were also losing valuable working hours because of daily congestion.
The court also flagged the alarming shortage of emergency transport between IGMC and AIMSS Chamiana. It was informed that only two emergency vehicles with two drivers are available to shuttle critically ill patients between the two hospitals, making round-the-clock emergency services virtually impossible.
Infrastructure deficiencies also came under sharp scrutiny. The Bench observed that the Bhattakuffer-Chamiana road has deteriorated into a waterlogged stretch, posing a serious risk to ambulance movement and patient transport. Although hill cutting on a 900-metre stretch has been completed, the road cannot be properly blacktopped because mud continues to slide onto it during rains.
The High Court said permanent improvement would require the Public Works Department to first construct retaining walls and an effective drainage system before road surfacing could be completed. It directed authorities to continue road construction and utility shifting on priority and examine the feasibility of laying electricity lines underground to prevent further delays.
Healthcare infrastructure inside the hospital also remained under the court's scanner. The Bench took exception to the shifting of echocardiography (Echo) services to Chamiana, leaving the Regional Cancer Hospital without the facility and forcing cancer patients to travel elsewhere for routine cardiac investigations. The court asked the government to explore restoring Echo services at both IGMC Shimla and the Regional Cancer Hospital.
In a relief for patients and attendants, Advocate General Anup Kumar Rattan informed the Bench that the government would immediately permit NGO Almighty Blessings to construct a temporary shelter at AIMSS Chamiana for providing free meals. The organisation, headed by Sarabjit Singh Bobby, has been serving free food at IGMC for 12 years, Kamla Nehru Hospital for a decade and at Chamiana for the past eight months despite having no designated space.
The High Court granted the Advocate General time to obtain fresh instructions on several traffic management and healthcare recommendations submitted by the Amicus Curiae and fixed the next hearing for August 13.
