Human Rights Panel Takes Action on Poor Conditions at Panchkula Civil Hospital
Hospitals
Panchkula: The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has stepped in after receiving multiple complaints about the dilapidated conditions at the Sector 6 Civil Hospital in Panchkula. The commission has directed the Additional Chief Secretary of Health, Haryana, to appoint a senior officer to investigate the matter. A detailed report is expected before the next hearing.
The complaint, filed by SK Nayar, President of the Panchkula Citizens Welfare Association, paints a grim picture of the hospital’s state. According to Nayar, the Sector 6 hospital has been in a dilapidated condition for several years, with no significant efforts to improve the facilities. During a personal inspection, he reported that the roofs of doctors' rooms and patient wards are leaking. He also pointed out the lack of regular maintenance of the hospital’s building and its surroundings.
Also Read: HC upholds Panchkula clinic site demarcation, Affirms Healthcare as a Fundamental Right
The complaint also pointed to critical infrastructure issues that severely affect patient care. According to the news reports, during power outages, the hospital reportedly lacks proper lighting in essential areas such as the emergency ward, intensive care unit (ICU), and maternity wards.
Furthermore, Nayar alleged that the hospital was unable to provide essential vaccinations, such as those for rabies. Security arrangements at the hospital were also called into question. Nayar raised concerns over the presence of five different entry points to the facility, which could pose significant security risks. Additionally, it was noted that the hospital’s CCTV cameras were not functioning properly, leaving the premises vulnerable to security breaches.
According to TOI, the commission observed, "Right to Health is a basic human right, and maintaining cleanliness in government hospitals is critically important for patient safety, preventing the spread of infections, and ensuring a positive healing environment, impacting both patient and staff well-being. Keeping hospitals clean is a crucial patient safety issue, and not providing a clean surrounding in the hospital where crucial patients are present is a gross violation of human rights."
