Patients and attendants at Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College and Hospital in Tanda, Kangra district, continue to face severe inconvenience as the installation of new elevators remains incomplete more than three months after work began. The state's second-largest government health facility is currently operating with only one functional lift, causing significant hardship for patients, especially those requiring urgent care.
Only one lift serving four floors
Photographs from the hospital's ground floor show that work on the new elevators is still unfinished. The lone operational lift is being used by patients, attendants, and staff to move between the ground floor and the fourth floor, where several key wards and critical departments are located. This has led to long queues and delays, particularly during peak hours.
The shortage of lifts has forced many patients, including those on stretchers and wheelchairs, to be shifted to upper floors via ramps. This has increased the burden on attendants and hospital staff while delaying the movement of elderly, critically ill, and emergency patients. According to hospital authorities, the prolonged delay has become a major concern for hundreds of patients visiting the facility daily.
Funding transferred six months ago
Dr Milap Sharma, Principal of the Tanda medical college, stated that the Health Department had transferred the full amount required for the purchase and installation of lifts to the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department approximately six months ago. Despite repeated reminders from the hospital administration, the department has yet to complete the installation work, causing considerable inconvenience to patients, attendants, and staff.
The incomplete project has raised questions about the pace of execution of public works. Patients and their families have asked why such an important healthcare facility has been functioning for months with only one operational lift and when the remaining elevators will be commissioned. The hospital authorities say the delay has affected the smooth functioning of several departments, particularly during rush hours when patient movement is high.
Criticism from patients and attendants
As a government hospital funded through public resources, residents expect timely completion of essential infrastructure projects and uninterrupted healthcare services. The prolonged delay in lift installation has drawn criticism from patients and attendants, who say such basic facilities should not remain unavailable for so long. Visitors have urged the authorities concerned to expedite the pending work and make all lifts operational at the earliest, so that patients—particularly the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the critically ill—can access treatment without unnecessary hardship.
