There could be shortage of manpower, funds for new health drives, says Chandigarh Doctor Vanita Gupta

What are those indicators?

These include infant mortality rate — which is very less as compared to other parts of the country. The maternal mortality rate is also very less. We have sustainable targets and according to the indicators, we can achieve the goals very well and within the prescribed time.

How would you rate the existing facilities which is available for the city residents?

We have a large public health infrastructure in the city. We have three main tertiary care hospitals that cater to the city population. Other than these main hospitals, we have community centres and dispensaries available for the general public.

What are the new facilities that have been added?

The UT health department has started the alternate medical units (AMUs) which are managed by three medical staff and are located in such areas where we don’t have such facilities. We already have seven AMUs in the city and in this financial year, we are setting up three more.

What are the challenges you are expecting to face?

I am expecting to face shortage of manpower and shortage of funds for some new health programmes that we are planning to do. But, I have marked the possible challenges and I will do my best to overcome whatever hurdles comes my way. She said that the task will be challenging enough and she has to do a lot in very little time.

Recently, certain reports released by various study groups have highlighted how city residents are suffering from some ailment or the other throughout the year.

The figures of Chandigarh regarding the implementation of national programmes are not always reflecting the actual data of Chandigarh. These don’t convey the picture of Chandigarh residents because the city has tertiary health centres that serve the people of the region. The figures are always clubbed with the region and its not purely the state of Chandigarh.

IMRC released reports of a survey which said that UT tops the list of the states with high diabetes prevalence. What are you doing for that?

We have provided glucometers to all the ANMs.

They do house-to-house checking as well.

Pregnant women are also being checked because we have made this mandatory and its doesn’t cost any thing to
the people.

If they go out in the market, they have to pay for it, but here they can get it for free.

Will it cover the entire population?

We are now able to get all the population tested for diabetes. It is very helpful because once they are detected, we can tell them what measures totake including changes in diets and lifestyle.

Other than diabetes, cancer prevalence was also high as mentioned by a PGI report. What are your views on that?

Yes, it was there is Population bases registries. We get every time clubbed with the region. I don’t say that the Chandigarh is not contributing, but, the contribution to the numbers is much here.

The report also stated that breast cancer cases in the city are on the higher side. What are you doing about that?

We have two mammography vans, but currently there is no proper route structure. This year, I am planning to make it. If the charges for it is for example Rs100, we could have this free in future. Because screening is the important thing to prevent cancer. We are also planning to screen the women for cervix cancer. This can be done for all those women who come to the health centres. They can be checked there.

Are the evening OPDs at GMSH Sector 16 working well?

OPDs like pediatric and medicine are doing well. But, in other OPDs, like surgery, we are facing some issues but we will get them fixed soon.

Three employees of city hospitals were sent to BARC in Mumbai, who were detected with high levels of radiation. Have you received the report?

We are yet to get reports about it from BARC. I don’t know much about it.

Any plans to upgrade the Sector 16 hospital? Any plan to open new hospitals and dispensaries in the city?

I have plans to upgrade the Sector 16 hospital. For example, there are no ICUs here which we are planning to set up. We will also upgrade the existing facilities.

We are planning to open new hospitals in Maloya Dhanas and Sector 48. More investigated services would be started in dispensaries in the periphery and free drugs would be provided to everyone. But, I am not promising anything and we are working on it.

In the last two decades, no fresh appointments have taken place other than the doctors on contracts here in GMSH.

Yes, we have doctors through NHM. We have permanent doctors as well.

But, no new recruitment has taken place since 1990?

We have already moved the case since the time which you are mentioning. I think it is near completion.

It is almost summer. What are the plans of the health department to control mosquito genic conditions?

Mosquito control is happening. We are trying our best to stop malaria and dengue. Along with the Municipal Corporation, we will be looking to check stagnant water in the city. Malaria wing is already doing a good job. They are alert and on their toes.

Is a Malaria Elimination Programme being launched by the health department?

Yes, we already have less number of cases compared to other cities. Under the elimination programme, we will identify the zones where we think are hotspots. Many people come from outside. The idea is to get them screened for malaria.

What are the conditions in hospitals like Manimajra and other civic hospitals?

They have been started, but there is less manpower.