Chandigarh Health dept to use Government's hospital rental income on patients welfare activities

Chandigarh: With a focus on patient welfare, the Chandigarh Health Department has decided to make use of the additionally generated monthly income of Rs 50 lakh from renting out spaces at the government hospitals in the Union Territory on patient welfare activities.  

Around six medical shops and a canteen from Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16, and three Civil Hospitals at Sector 22, 45 and Mani Majra is being rented out. 

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The canteen at GMSH, Sector 16 which has been operated by family for the last 35 years, have been replaced by a new agency through a  transparent bidding process. The new agency would be paying Rs 11.70 lakh to the hospital as a monthly license fee which is double the amount given by the previous agency. 

Three new chemist shops, including a Jan Aushadhi store, have been established by the health department within the premises of the hospital after a fresh tender process. For the past 29 years, only a single chemist shop was available in the premises for a monthly rent of Rs 3 lakh.

Speaking to the Tribune India, Yashpal Garg, UT Health Secretary, said, "The additional chemist shops on the hospital premises will provide patients an option of procuring medicines from the chemist of their choice and this will also eliminate possible malpractices because of monopoly. The extra money generated from rental income will provide us better opportunities for the welfare of patients by utilising it on permissible activities for rogi kalyan." 

The extra money from the chemist would be used to provide free treatment to patients of trauma, stroke and myocardial infarction admitted to the Emergency for the first 24 hours in case the patient/attendant makes a request for the same, irrespective of their income status or if there is no attendant. 

Following 24 hours, the treatment would be provided after due recommendations from the department head concerned and after receiving approval of the Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS), Medical Superintendent (MS) & Director Health Services (DHS). 

Further, the senior citizens of the UT who are above 80 years of age at GMSH-16 would be provided free treatment in case the patient/attendant makes a request for the same, irrespective of their income status. 

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