Shimla, April 22
Protests have intensified in Shimla over the decision to shift the gynecology OPD from Kamla Nehru Hospital to IGMC, with the Janwadi Mahila Samiti launching a 24-hour sit-in outside the hospital and demanding immediate rollback of the move.
The protest, directed against the state government, began on Wednesday, with members of the organization gathering outside the hospital premises. The group has warned that if the decision is not withdrawn, it will escalate its agitation and march to the Secretariat.
Speaking on the occasion, state secretary Falma Chauhan said maternity and gynecology services at Kamla Nehru Hospital are closely linked and should not be separated. She said shifting the OPD would adversely affect women seeking treatment.
Chauhan alleged that the decision was taken in haste despite the hospital having a long history of providing healthcare services to women. She said that if the government plans to introduce advanced facilities such as robotic surgery, smart labs, or IVF centers, these should be developed within the same hospital rather than relocating existing services.
She also pointed out that IGMC is already facing space and infrastructure constraints, which could lead to longer waiting times and patient inconvenience, including delays in diagnostic procedures.
The organisation has announced that it will hold a larger protest outside IGMC on April 30 if its demands are not met. It further warned that the agitation would intensify with a march to the Secretariat if the government failed to reconsider its decision.
