NEW DELHI: He lords over one of the most advanced and biggest hospitals in the capital—Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital (GTB) at Dilshad Garden, whose capacity will go up from 1,200 to 1,800 after the new `53 crore ‘green’ building is inaugurated. To put things in perspective, the GTB Hospital, headed by Dr Rajpal, handles upwards of 6,500 OPD patients and 55-60 deliveries per day. At any given moment, there are more than 2,000 people being treated there.
The new centrally air conditioned 500 bed hospital block, work on which started in October 2007, will be inaugurated in the second week of October by health minister Ashok Kumar Walia. The eight-storied RCC-framed building is earthquake resistant, the first building in the city with base isolation technology. It has a total area of 28,734 sq meters. The first four floors are centrally AC, while split and window air conditioners will be used on the floors above.
Speaking about how the new building would enhance the capabilities of the hospital, Rajpal said, “The new block has five of the most advanced operation theatres (OT), with one a modular OT. This will ensure that there is minimal risk of infection. Moreover, there is an advanced gynaecology ward for women, a paediatric ward with ventilators, and a nursery intensive care unit (ICU) for new-born babies. In addition, we will be able to do hip joint replacement, laparoscopy, ENT (ear, nose, throat) and eye treatment, PCNL procedure for kidney and neurosurgery for brain tumour and psychiatry. In addition there is an eye bank, radiology and pathology departments, blood bank and hospital lab services.”
Rajpal said there will be private rooms in the new block, available at a token cost of `300. The new block will have CCTV and a solar water heating system. It will also be fully computerised, with a LAN connecting the whole hospital.
Health minister A K Walia said, “Impetus would be put on maintaining the block from the inaugural day.” He recently paid a visit to the hospital and observed that waiting rooms and public access areas were dirty, following which, he directed the PWD to look into the issue.