Birth issues for Panchkula's Mother & Childcare Hospital even after first birthday

Time of India

2 days ago

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Panchkula: One year after its virtual inauguration by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, the towering 11-storey Mother and Childcare Hospital in Panchkula stands tall — mostly as a monument to missed deadlines and unrealized promises.
While the building boasts a Rs 113-crore price tag and a skyline-worthy silhouette, its actual contribution to healthcare remains limited to two OPDs. Yes, just two. The rest of the facility — labour rooms, operation theatres, ICUs, emergency wings, and even the education institute — are still waiting for their debut.
The OPDs finally opened in March, after a long delay and a wave of negative press. But even four months later, the promised gradual transition of other departments remains a distant dream.
Apparently, the hospital is still in its "soft launch" phase — except no one's quite sure when the "hard launch" will happen.
The culprit? A missing fire NOC. Turns out, you can build a hospital, paint it, and even inaugurate it, but without a fire safety clearance, you can't actually use it. The OPDs were allowed to function only after provisional NOCs were hurriedly issued — because nothing says "urgent healthcare" like a bureaucratic scramble triggered by bad publicity.
A fire wing official reminded everyone that this isn't just any building — it's meant for women and children. So, no, they won't be cutting corners. The hospital still hasn't addressed the fire safety anomalies flagged months ago. Thus, only OPDs were given a go-ahead with a provisional NOC, the fire official added.
Dr R S Chauhan, principal medical officer (PMO), Panchkula, said, "We are not in a hurry as the public works department (PWD) is still carrying out the works.
We highlighted our requirements, which are currently being undertaken. Following this, the fire NOC will be applied for and procured again."
Importantly, the adjoining civil hospital — meant to be relieved by this new facility — is bursting at the seams. With 300 sanctioned beds and 500 patients, maternity wards have become a game of musical chairs, except with beds. Two women to a bed? Why not — it's bonding time! Ultrasounds and tests? Bring snacks, it's going to be a long wait.
The new hospital was supposed to add 200 beds—100 for gynaecology and 100 for paediatrics—bringing the total to 500. But for now, those beds are just numbers on a blueprint. The building, with its 7 hospital floors and 3 parking levels, is more of a vertical promise than a functioning healthcare facility.