Indian Express 28.07.2010
Charak Palika to move to vet hospital, get new building
Hamari Jamatia Tags : Charak Palika Hospital, delhi Posted: Wed Jul 28 2010, 01:20 hrs
New Delhi: The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to shift the Charak Palika Hospital (CPH) to the premises of the more conveniently located veterinary hospital on Shantipath.The Charak Palika Hospital is now located in Moti Bagh, but the nearest bus stop is 800 metres away. Moreover, no public transport is available to the hospital from the Ring Road.
“We found that dogs and other animals brought to our veterinary hospitals for treatment belong to rich people and travel in cars. For them, it’s not a problem if the hospital is a some distance away from the main road. For the public who travel on foot or by buses, it is easier if the hospital is located on the main road,” says P K Sharma, Medical Officer of Health (MOH), NDMC.
The council has already approved the shifting of the hospitals. It has also planned to demolish the existing veterinary hospital and build a more state-of-the-art building for CPH.
The initial plans involve the construction of a nine-storey building, a proposal for which has been sent to the DUAC for approval. The new hospital will have 250 beds and an additional wing for gynaecology. The civic body also plans to have better emergency facilities, the modalities of which are being worked out.
The project will take at least three years to complete, according to the civic body.
The CPH was first built in the early 60s. After its inauguration, several wings were added over the years. At present, it has 150 beds, outdoor and indoor patient services for medicine, dentistry and cardiology.
Apart from making the hospital more accessible, the plan to shift was floated as the existing hospital building has exhausted its capacity to accommodate any additional wards as its foundation is weak. A portion of the building has been declared dangerous and needs to be demolished.
The new building, i.e., the veterinary hospital, has five acre of area that can be built on. The work will be undertaken in a phased manner as the civic body cannot shut down the hospitals. The hospital will benefit residents of Chanakyapuri, Moti Bagh, Netaji Nagar and Sunder Nagar, officials said.
