Neurosurgery dept at GMCH soon

CHANDIGARH: Waking up to the plight of critically injured head injury patients being brought to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, who have to be routinely referred to PGI for immediate intervention of neurosurgeons, the UT administration has set the ball rolling for the creation of a neurosurgery department in GMCH. Having sanctioned creation of one post of lecturer and one post of reader of neurosurgery, the UT administration has now forwarded the proposal to the Centre for final approval.
GMCH director-principal Prof H M Swami,while speaking to TNN recently, said that efforts were on for creation of specialised departments in the hospital, including neurology, cardiology, nephrology and urology.Though it might take some time for the creation of these departments, city residents and people from adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh would definitely get a breather.
"The UT administration has already sanctioned the post of a lecturer and reader for neurosurgery. The posts have been forwarded to the Centre for approval. We are also aiming at introduction of super-speciality departments including neurology, cardiology, nephrology and urology," Prof Swami observed.
Besides, to ensure smooth functioning of the hospital which been plagued by complaints against contractors employed for rendering different services in the hospital, the existing contractor system has been decentralised. "There were repeated complaints that the contractors weren''t releasing the salaries of the staff on time which led to agitations and work disruptions. However, now it has been streamlined and it has been made binding on the part of contractor to release the pay by seventh of every month. We have also decentralised the contractor system and split it into two components, one pertaining to skilled and other to unskilled workers," he said.
While ''skilled'' employees under the contractor include technicians, drivers, social workers and physiotherapists, ''unskilled'' category of staff includes ward attendants and class IV employees.
Administrative power of departmental heads has been enhanced and they have been allotted a sum of Rs 10,000 for purchasing equipment, medicine and chemicals required in their department. Earlier, "unnecessary delay" was encountered owing to official procedures.
Also, to ensure speedy repair of out-of-work equipments, repairing costing within Rs 50,000 are being immediately cleared by directorprincipal''s office. For repairs requiring higher financial involvement, files are being sent to the UT administration.