Shifting of Gynecology OPD from KNH is impractical and anti-women

Officials of the Public Health Campaign Himachal unit have strongly opposed the state government’s decision to shift the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Kamala Nehru Hospital to IGMC. They say that if the government does not reverse this decision, JSA members will not hesitate to protest.
JSA State Coordinator Satyawan Pundir called the government’s argument that IGMC has better facilities, modern equipment, and robotic surgery, while KNH has outdated equipment and ultrasound machines, ridiculous. He said the government claims that KNH’s equipment is outdated and not up to standard. If the equipment is outdated, it should be replaced and modernized to provide more services to women.
Pundir said that Kamala Nehru Hospital is the state’s only important healthcare institution for women, with approximately 10,000 patients receiving outpatient services each month, and women from not only Shimla but also remote areas of the state come here for treatment. Therefore, shifting to KNH would cause significant inconvenience to women, pregnant mothers, and general patients.
The Jan Swasthya Abhiyan has suggested to the government that patients requiring specialized facilities such as robotic surgery should be identified and referred to IGMC. They stated that the government should reconsider this decision. Furthermore, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan has also supported the protests being carried out by the women’s committee, staff, and doctors, demanding the shift to KNH.