Rogi Kalyan Samiti scheme: First 24 hours’ treatment free for trauma, stroke, mishap victims at GMSH-16

The decision was made during the fourth executive committee meeting of Rogi Kalyan Samiti, of GMSH-16, conducted on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Yashpal Garg, UT health secretary and deputy commissioner-cum-chairperson of the samiti

In a huge respite for patients, Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector-16, Chandigarh, will provide free-of-cost treatment to patients of trauma, stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack) for the first 24 hours in the hospital’s emergency ward, regardless of their financial status, under the Rogi Kalyan Samiti scheme.

In a huge respite for patients, Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector-16, Chandigarh, will provide free-of-cost treatment to patients of trauma, stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack) for the first 24 hours in the hospital’s emergency ward, regardless of their financial status, under the Rogi Kalyan Samiti scheme. (HT File)

Besides, Chandigarh residents above the age of 80 and patients with disabilities (above 40% in all age groups) will also get free treatment at the hospital.

The decision was made during the fourth executive committee meeting of Rogi Kalyan Samiti, of GMSH-16, conducted on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Yashpal Garg, UT health secretary and deputy commissioner-cum-chairperson of the samiti.

The meeting was attended by Dr Suman Singh, director, health services and other senior officials of the hospital, besides members of the committee.

During the meeting, it was decided that the hospital will provide free treatment to patients of trauma, stroke and heart attack for the first 24 hours in case the patient or their attendant makes a request for the same, irrespective of their income status. After 24 hours, poor patients can avail free treatment after meeting the existing criteria, which includes recommendation from the head of the department concerned and approval of hospital authorities.

The decisions have, however, been made as a pilot project, which will be applicable till December 31 this year, and can be later extended by the committee.

Ajay Jagga, member of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti committee of GMSH-16, said, “GMSH-16 emergency witnessed a huge footfall of accident victims and patients with stroke and heart attack, not only from Chandigarh but from neighboring areas too. The treatment cost for the first 24 hours, including the cost of emergency or life-saving medications/drugs, is very high. So for such patients, this will come as a huge respite. Senior citizens and disabled patients who are residents of Chandigarh will also get better healthcare now.”

RKS to support Red Cross to treat terminally ill cancer patients

The GMSH-16 RKS committee will provide financial assistance to the Red Cross Society for running their ‘HOSPICE’ project and for treating terminally ill cancer patients. Since Red Cross had lost the source of income from a few GMSH-16 shops, after UT rented the property to private players, the Rogi Kalyan Samiti executive committee decided to share 20% of the rental income being earned by GMSH-16 in its RKS account from the allotted shops/canteen, to Red Cross Society for running the HOSPICE project for Palliative Care of Cancer patients, till UT administration provides them support, or till December 31, whichever is earliest.

RKS funds remained unutilised

The decision to extend the poor patient welfare scheme to more beneficiaries was made after the members realised that the RKS funds were being underutilised. Under the poor-free category, the RKS provided free treatment to only 11 beneficiaries from February 2022 to June 2022, for the total amount of ₹84,445 only. It is worth mentioning that till December 31, 2022, the RKS committee was having a total of ₹16 crore, including ₹14 crore in fixed deposits.

The RKS committee is presently getting ₹50 lakh, every month, in its account which is meant to be utilised for patient welfare. After the UT health department rented two more chemist shops in the hospital, the RKS earning amount has been increasing by ₹35 lakh every month.

The committee was of the view that the money being earned from chemists and other rented shops should be completely used for the welfare of poor patients.