CPI(M) Opposes Shift of Kamla Nehru Hospital OPD, Urges Govt to Reconsider Decision

Shimla, April 12:The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opposed the proposed shifting of the Gynaecology OPD from Kamla Nehru Hospital to the OPD complex of Indira Gandhi Medical College, raising concerns over public inconvenience and healthcare standards.

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, CPI(M) State Secretary Sanjay Chauhan said the decision has triggered public resentment and should be withdrawn immediately.

The party argued that shifting the OPD could violate guidelines related to Maternal and Child Health (MCH) facilities and may lead to overcrowding at IGMC, which is already facing space constraints. It also highlighted that Kamla Nehru Hospital, a historic institution established in 1924, caters to 300–400 women daily and provides affordable, largely free healthcare services.

CPI(M) further stressed that the hospital has been developed over decades as a dedicated maternal and child care center, with expansion and modernization projects already underway. The party warned that relocating services could disrupt patient care and hurt public sentiment.

The letter urged the government to retain the OPD at its current location and continue with the planned modernization and expansion of the hospital to strengthen healthcare services for women.