Need more tertiary care centres in UT, better emergency services in peripheral areas: UT health secy

The workshop was organised by the Chandigarh Administration and supported by the United Nations Development Programme - with an objective to set the roadmap for the UT.

The key challenges in the vision for Chandigarh was discussed at the two-day visioning workshop on 'Future Ready Chandigarh 2030 and Beyond', which concluded Tuesday.

The need for more tertiary care centres in Chandigarh— in view of the excessive load on emergency wards at hospitals in the city and the peripheral areas was discussed as one of the key challenges in the vision for the City Beautiful in the field of healthcare.

The key challenges in the vision for Chandigarh was discussed at the two-day visioning workshop on ‘Future Ready Chandigarh 2030 and Beyond’, which concluded Tuesday. The discussions took place on two themes- Health, Nutrition and Well-Being and Social Protection and Safety for all.

The workshop was organised by the Chandigarh Administration and supported by the United Nations Development Programme – with an objective to set the roadmap for the UT.

In his presentation during the workshop, UT Health Secretary Yashpal Garg highlighted that the existing health infrastructure of Chandigarh boasts of good healthcare, but it is inadequate. “The existing health infrastructure in Chandigarh is of excellent quality but inadequate because of the pressure from adjoining states. About 70 to 80 per cent patients of Covid-19, dengue and malaria here are from the adjoining areas. We need to have better health infrastructure in adjoining areas too to reduce pressure on the UT,” said Health Secretary.

Among the other key challenges that were discussed were the decentralisation of MCH centres. The officials said that there is a requirement to set up at least five more MCH centres here.
It was also said that the requirement of infrastructure, manpower, equipment and drugs need to be planned, and the peripheral centres need to be strengthened, especially in emergency services, and opportunities of regular employment.

The UT Administration said that in its plan for future, it aims to look at tele-consultation, digital connectivity, e-Hospital, e-Office and rolling out of expanded range of services at Health and Wellness Centres: Emergency, Oral, Mental, Eye, ENT services and elderly and palliative care in the future.

Pandemic preparedness
The preparedness for the probable third wave of Covid-19 was also discussed at the meeting. The officials informed that Chandigarh has been divided into four zones and rapid response teams have been constituted, comprising a doctor, a laboratory technician and trained paramedical staff for screening and commute of suspect patients, if required, with special emphasis on the elderly and the patients with co-morbidity.

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It was specified that the team will do general physical examination and collect samples for routine investigations and Covid-19 markers. Due care will be taken to decrease mortality and timely shift patients to more equipped health institutions, said a statement issued by administration.

Visioning exercise must be at Tricity level: Administrator Purohit
UT Administrator Banwari Lal Purohit said that the visioning exercise should be undertaken at Tricity level- keeping in view Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali.

He congratulated the experts for highlighting the importance of the involvement of common people in defining the vision for the city. The Administrator stressed that with the growing population, it is imperative to enhance the infrastructure and meet the demands of the residents. He also ensured that the UT Administration is committed to continuing the visioning exercise.

During the workshop, Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Mandip Brar and Secretary Social Welfare Nitika Pawar presented the initiatives of the Chandigarh Administration towards achieving goals of zero poverty, zero hunger, gender equality and reducing inequalities, among others. Further, case studies and best practices related to social equity, welfare and protection, inclusivity in large cities, social protection and safety nets for informal workers were also shared by the panellists.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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