In a significant move to ease the burden on patients and their families, the Chandigarh Health Department has announced the installation of temporary porta cabin shelters at key government hospitals. The initiative, set to begin from the New Year, aims to provide a basic place to stay for those who travel from far-off areas and cannot afford private accommodation.
A Shelter for the Needy: Addressing a Long-Standing Gap
For years, patients undergoing treatment at government hospitals in Chandigarh, along with their attendants, have faced immense hardship. Many, hailing from rural and distant regions with limited financial means, find it impossible to arrange for lodging outside the hospital premises. This often forces them to spend nights in hospital corridors, waiting areas, or even open spaces, compromising their dignity and well-being during an already stressful time.
Health Director Dr. Suman Singh highlighted the current lack of facilities. She stated that while a waiting area exists at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH-16) in Sector 16 to offer some respite from extreme weather, none of the three civil hospitals in Manimajra, Sector 22, and Sector 45 have any dedicated facility for overnight stays. The new porta cabins are designed to fill this critical gap.
The Plan: Bed Capacity and Hospital Locations
The department has finalized a plan to install these pre-fabricated shelters at multiple locations. The largest unit, a 25-bedded portable cabin shelter, will be set up at GMSH-16. In addition, smaller 10-bedded porta cabins will be established at each of the three civil hospitals in Manimajra, Sector 22, and Sector 45.
Dr. Singh explained the rationale behind the limited bed capacity. Unlike the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), these hospitals typically do not handle a high volume of patients requiring prolonged hospitalization. Therefore, the shelters are primarily intended for patients and attendants who need to stay for shorter durations. "This facility will be a major relief for patients coming from rural and distant areas," she emphasized.
What are Porta Cabins and the Expected Impact
Porta cabins are quick-to-install, temporary structures that provide essential shelter. They come equipped with basic amenities such as proper roofing, lighting, seating or sleeping arrangements, and protection from heat, cold, and rain. Their use in a hospital setting is expected to offer a safe, secure, and more dignified alternative for caregivers and patients during the treatment period.
If implemented as planned with the onset of the New Year, this initiative is being hailed as a humane and much-needed step. It directly addresses the plight of economically weaker sections of society, ensuring that the challenge of finding a place to sleep does not add to their medical worries. The move underscores a focus on patient-centric care beyond just medical treatment within the walls of the hospital.
