Engage all stakeholders for hosp’s smooth operation: HC

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh high court on Monday instructed chief secretary Prabodh Saxena to organise a meeting with all stakeholders on Nov 11, to ensure that proper facilities are in place for the smooth operation of the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialties (AIMSS), Chamiana, Shimla, allowing patients to access specialised healthcare services.
The division bench, comprising acting chief justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and justice Satyen Vaidya, observed: “We are of the considered view that the question of utility and functioning of the hospital at Chamiana, Shimla district, HP cannot be left to the wisdom and discretion of a single individual or a group of individuals. However, all the stakeholders are required to be associated in deciding as to how best the hospital at Chamiana can be utilised.”
The directions came during the resumed hearing of a case in which the high court had initiated the proceeding on its own motion observing that the state govt had failed to ensure proper facilities, including the proper approach road, at the super speciality hospital. The high court, earlier on Aug 29, directed to halt the operations of outdoor patient department (OPD) services at AIMSS Chamiana till the completion of safe and motorable road’s construction to the hospital, while also directing continuation of OPD services from Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla till then.
The division bench made it clear on Monday that the chief secretary would ensure that apart from other stakeholders, the meeting shall include medical superintendent, principal and heads of all the super speciality departments of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) at Shimla; representatives of doctors’ association, para medical staff and security. Others who are required to attend the meeting include Himachal DGP, managing director of the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation(HRTC), secretary and engineer-in-chief of the public works department(PWD), secretaries of the health as well as revenue departments, members of the NGOs and civil society, advocate general or his nominee and senior advocate Bimal Gupta.
The court has directed to convene the meeting on Nov 11 at 2 pm in the office of chief secretary, and place the minutes of the meeting before the court on Nov 13 during the next hearing.