GMC emerges as beacon of hope for needy

The government hospitals are often seen as the primary and only health facilities for poorest of the poor, who cannot afford costly treatment at private clinics. The Government Medical College, Amritsar, has emerged as a beacon of hope for poor patients. On an average, over 1,000 surgeries are performed here every month, with nearly half of the procedures conducted free of cost under the Ayushman Sehat Bima Yojana.

The hospital provides advanced medical care, including laparoscopic surgery, neurosurgery and cancer surgeries to those who cannot afford expensive treatment at private hospitals. Even for those who are not covered under the healthcare scheme, the charges at the Government Medical College (GMC) are significantly lower compared to the private hospitals.

“A patient can get a surgery for gallbladder removal for Rs 3,000-4,000 at the GMC. Private hospitals charge over 10 times for the same procedure,” said a surgeon.

Experts at the hospital have been working tirelessly to provide quality medical care to patients and their efforts have not gone unnoticed. “We are proud of the work we have been doing here. It’s heartening to see the impact it has had on the lives of our patients,” said Dr Rakesh Sharma, Professor of Surgery.

Despite the hospital’s success, experts feel there is still scope for improvement. One major challenge at the GMC is the lack of advanced technology, including robotic equipment for surgeries, which would enable the hospital to serve needy patients even better.

Another challenge is the reluctance of middle-class patients to seek treatment at government hospitals. Over the decades, as the public health care system has deteriorated, people who can afford treatment at private health facilities have turned away from government hospitals. GMC Principal Dr Rajiv Devgan, “The GMC’s efforts have been recognised by the government, which has been providing support and resources to help the hospital improve its services. The hospital’s success story is a testament to the dedication and hard work of its staff and it continues to be a lifeline for the poor patients of the region.”

Punjab