Panchkula— The Civil Hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, hailed as the district’s largest and most prominent government healthcare facility, is now under scrutiny following a string of serious criminal incidents that have raised grave concerns about patient and staff safety.
In the past four months alone, the hospital has witnessed a spate of crimes, including theft, sexual harassment, and even the kidnapping of a newborn baby — all of which have led to registered FIRs. Officials and local residents fear there may be many more cases that have gone unreported.
The hospital’s daily footfall in the OPD alone ranges from 4,000 to 5,000 patients, but with only a handful of security guards, managing safety across the sprawling premises has become a daunting task.
Lack of Manpower, Mounting Risks
Principal Medical Officer Dr. R.S. Chauhan admitted that only five security guards are posted at night, and often just three are present due to staff taking leave. “It is too few to monitor such a large facility,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mukta Kumar highlighted that the sanctioned security manpower is inadequate. “We’ve written to the Haryana Health Department seeking more guards, especially for sensitive areas like the labour room, paediatrics, NICU, stroke centre, and pharmacy,” she said. Despite the installation of several CCTV cameras, thefts of computers and medicines from dispensaries have occurred.
Citizens, Associations Demand Immediate Action
The alarming incidents have triggered outrage from civil society. Federation of Residents’ Associations (FORA) General Secretary Bharat Hiteshi blamed the hospital authorities for negligence. “Patient security is paramount. The hospital should immediately rope in a private security agency,” he urged.
Citizens Welfare Association President S.K. Nayar echoed the sentiment. “How many more crimes must occur before authorities act? CCTV cameras alone won’t stop these incidents—proactive prevention is the need of the hour,” he said.
Timeline of Alarming Incidents
- April 15, 2025: Unidentified miscreants smashed the pharmacy’s glass entrance and stole psychotropic drugs after forcibly breaking open a cupboard.
- February 19, 2025: A five-day-old baby was kidnapped from the hospital. The infant was recovered and the accused arrested days later.
- December 16, 2024: A grieving Kalka resident reported that his deceased wife’s gold earrings were stolen while completing hospital formalities.
- December 3, 2024: A female lab technician accused a man of sexual harassment. A case was subsequently registered.
