Only 8 of 16 beds operational initially due to limited staff
Ludhiana, April 22 – The intensive care unit (ICU) at Ludhiana’s Civil Hospital is set to become operational by the end of this month, after remaining shut for over two years due to a severe staff shortage, officials confirmed on Monday.
ICU Closed Post-Covid Surge
The ICU, which houses 16 ventilators, was reportedly shut down following a decline in Covid-19 cases. However, in the absence of staff, the facility remained non-functional even as critical patients had to be referred to other hospitals outside the city.
Currently, only 8 ICU beds will be available, though full operations may resume in the future. “Manpower is now in place to partially resume services,” said Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Harpreet Singh.
Staff Sanctioned Under National Health Mission
Under the National Health Mission, 16 trained ICU nurses, eight multi-task workers, and two technicians have been sanctioned to get the facility running. Hospital officials said more staff would be required to bring the ICU up to its full 16-bed capacity.
Referrals to Other Cities Led to Critical Delays
On average, the hospital admits 70–80 patients daily, with 5–10 critical cases often being referred to tertiary centres in Chandigarh or Patiala. These long transfers, taking up to three hours, pose life-threatening delays. Several patients reportedly died during transit, while others were forced to seek costly private care.
Long-Awaited Move After Multiple Assurances
Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh had assured the public on multiple occasions that the ICU would be made functional. Despite visiting the hospital at least six times over the past year, progress had been slow until now.
The reopening of the ICU is expected to significantly improve critical care services in the city and reduce pressure on private facilities.