The director of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Prof Vivek Lal, recently paid a visit to the satellite centre in Una, Himachal Pradesh. Accompanied by his engineering team, Prof Lal was there to oversee the progress of the Out Patient Department (OPD) block, which is expected to be operational by March 2024.

During his visit, Prof Lal also took the time to visit the Una civil hospital, where the satellite centre’s OPD is currently functioning. He interacted with the OPD visitors and conducted examinations on several patients.

In other news, the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) in Jaipur is facing space constraints in its small OPD building. Patients are forced to wait outside under a tin shed due to the limited space. While the registration and consultation process is done online, the system is time-consuming and requires doctors to input all relevant details. The NIA must address these issues to improve the overall patient experience.

Additionally, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital will be opening a specialty OPD for the transgender community. This initiative aims to provide accessible healthcare services to transgender individuals who may feel uncomfortable seeking medical care in public spaces. The OPD service will be available every Friday, with a separate registration counter for the convenience of the patients.

Furthermore, doctors at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospitals (MGMMCH) in Jamshedpur went on strike after a doctor was assaulted by the father of a deceased child. The strike was later called off after intervention from local government officials. The incident has sparked demands for increased security at the hospital, and the police have been directed to investigate and take action against the accused. The cause of the child’s death is currently under investigation by the hospital authorities.