Chandigarh: GMCH limits elective surgeries

Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has planned to limit elective surgeries and continue OPDs through online registration only, while Government Multi-specialty Hospital, Sector 16, its dispensaries and civil hospital will continue with walk-in OPDs.

“The decision to stop walk-in OPDs was taken last month itself, when doctors from ENT department had tested positive for the flu. We will hold a review meeting on Monday,” said Prof Jasbinder Kaur, director-principal, GMCH.

After four health workers, including technical staff and doctors, had tested positive for Covid on February 26, GMCH had suspended the OPD of the ENT department. Also, all elective surgeries had been cancelled.

GMCH doctors decided they would see patients physically using online appointments.

Patients are being offered consultation on telemedicine and eSanjeevani and would be seen in-person only if required.

PGI was the first to announce suspension of physical OPDs from Monday owing to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

“There are some online numbers given by PGI for consultation which seldom work or are attended to. In fact, it gets so tough to access doctors in case of non-Covid issues,” said a patient who belongs to Ludhiana.

Most of the doctors in PGI feel as GMCH and GMSH are not referral tertiary care centres, it will be inconvenient for patients to get themselves treated. “There are rural areas where most do not know or have access to Internet. These online services are suitable for cities only,” said a faculty in GMSH. ToI