Healthcare on the brink: Nurpur Civil Hospital’s fight for survival

Once a well-equipped healthcare institution offering a range of specialty surgeries, Nurpur’s 200-bed Civil Hospital has now been reduced to a neglected facility struggling to offer even basic services. For the past month, general, major and orthopaedic surgeries have come to a complete halt, highlighting the apathy of the State Health and Family Welfare Department, which appears to have abandoned the hospital altogether.

Merely two and a half years ago, the hospital boasted top-tier medical specialties and infrastructure. Today, it stands as a forgotten entity. Even the few remaining facilities are gradually vanishing, leaving the underprivileged and rural population in utter distress.

Adding to the hospital’s woes is a troubling administrative trend — over the past six months, Medical Superintendents (MS) have been posted here just months before retirement, leading to a leadership vacuum and a lack of long-term vision.

The Operation Theatre (OT), once active twice a week with general and orthopaedic surgeries, is now lying idle. Two 2-ton air conditioners in the OT have been non-functional, making it impossible for surgeons to operate in the heat. As a result, both the general and orthopaedic surgeons have been forced to suspend surgeries, much to the dismay of patients.

The situation is especially dire for HIMCARE and AYUSHMAN cardholders, who are entitled to free medical surgeries in government institutions. Due to a lack of essential surgical items, these beneficiaries have been denied critical care for over a month. Hospital authorities have failed to procure even basic supplies, blaming the absence of a rate contract for purchases.

When asked about the failure to provide cashless medical surgeries to HIMCARE and AYUSHMAN card holders, Dr Subhash Thakur, Medical Superintendent, explained that the hospital is currently unable to procure surgical and other medical supplies due to the absence of a rate contract with suppliers in the area. He said they are awaiting the final award of the tender for hospital supplies by Tanda Medical College, Kangra. “Once the tender is finalised, the hospital administration will have access to specified rates for these items and will be able to procure them accordingly. Until then, we are unable to make purchases from the open market due to the risk of audit objections,” he added.

The hospital’s Rs 2.15 crore Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plant has also been non-functional for over two years due to the lack of maintenance. This, despite the state government allowing hospitals to carry out local repairs of critical equipment after the expiration of the Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC), which ended two years ago. No new AMC has been awarded since.

Local ex-MLA and former minister Rakesh Pathania has condemned the government, accusing it of “playing with the lives of the people of the Nurpur constituency.” He alleged a deliberate plan to dismantle health infrastructure, citing how previously installed equipment in Nurpur’s 50-bed Mother-Child Hospital was shifted to Una and now the Civil Hospital is also being crippled.

Himachal Tribune