HC stays shifting of Kamla Nehru Hospital departments to IGMC

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh high court on Wednesday stayed the shifting of the gynaecology OPD and other departments of the 102-year-old Kamla Nehru Hospital here to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla.The order came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Falma Chauhan, secretary of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), challenging the state govt's decision to shift the departments.The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi.While issuing the notice to the state govt, the court directed the principal secretary of the health department to explain the reasons for the proposed shifting and inform the court about its likely impact on patients.The petitioner's counsel argued that Kamla Nehru Hospital had provided specialised healthcare services to women and children for decades and catered to patients from remote areas of the hill state.It was submitted that shifting departments to the IGMC would cause inconvenience to patients and affect the hospital's historic identity.The matter has been listed for hearing on May 28.Earlier, several women's organisations had protested against the state govt's proposed move in Shimla.MSID:: 131064530 413 |