Originally established in 1952 to serve a population of approximately 5 lakh, the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16 now receives referrals from across the region. To provide better services to patients and reduce dependency on the already overburdened PGIMER, GMSH has sent a proposal to the UT administration for a super-specialty block. This facility would specialize in providing advanced medical care and treatments in specific fields.
On average, GMSH-16 attends to around 3,000 patients daily at its out-patient department (OPD). The gynaecology department alone handles the highest number, with 350 to 400 patients daily.
A senior official from GMSH expressed concerns about the hospital’s capacity: “Although we are a district hospital, our operations resemble those of a medical college. We are currently facing overcrowding issues with no available space for expansion. Vertical expansion would require relocating several departments, posing logistical challenges.
Given our role as a critical referral centre for the region, closing any facility is not feasible. Besides enhancing healthcare facilities and infrastructure in the surrounding areas, the urgent priority is to introduce super-specialty services at GMSH, starting with cardiology, nephrology, and neurology. To advance as a hospital, we have submitted a proposal to the administration for the establishment of a dedicated super-specialty block,” added the official.
Compelled to Refer Patients to PGIMER and GMCH
Currently, due to the absence of specialty departments, GMSH is compelled to refer patients to PGIMER and GMCH, Sector 32, leading to treatment delays and inconvenience for patients. The UT health services director is eager to bridge the gap between government and private hospitals in terms of infrastructure, facilities, amenities, and patient care.
To this end, several areas of the hospital are being upgraded and renovated. For the past two months, work has been ongoing on the renovation of the gynaecology private rooms, with around 200 beds being relocated to other parts of the hospital.
The hospital’s emergency department is also being upgraded to improve space utilization, better bed placement, and add modern amenities. This area serves 250 to 300 patients daily, providing 70 beds, with additional makeshift ones created using trolleys and wheelchairs. During the season of viral fevers, dengue, and other seasonal illnesses, the number of patients increases, making the area inadequate to provide the best care.
Plans are also underway to install more powerful lighting, provide oxygen supply to every bed, add pull-in curtains for privacy, create separate entry and exit points, build modern toilets, and restructure the entire area, ensuring amenities comparable to those in private hospitals. However, due to space constraints, the Advanced Gynaecology Centre is on hold as the current setup cannot be relocated.
