One more dharamshala for patients in Delhi

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital’s short-stay home for those needing follow-up will open in two months

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital’s newly constructed dharamshala building on Mandir Marg in New Delhi. Photo: S. Subramanium

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, which for years has played a leading role in the healthcare of Delhi citizens, is all set to have a well-furnished ‘dharamshala’ in the heart of the city. The Rs. 6 crore facility will be the hospital’s ambitious endeavour to provide a comfortable stay for patients coming to Delhi for a follow-up from far flung areas of the country.

The short-stay home would have the facility to accommodate nearly 80 patients on a twin sharing basis and also additional dormitory accommodation. Hospital medical superintendent Dr. H.K. Kar said the dharamshala accommodation is aimed at aiding patients who have been discharged but are still in need of continuous follow-up.

“This dharamshala offers a short-stay home for the relatives of the patients and for patients who have been discharged but need continuous follow-up and do not have a place to stay. Land was allotted to us at a distance of just 1.2 km from the main hospital and the building has come up at a cost of about Rs. 6 crores,” he said.

Construction of the building, which was approved by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), is complete and the hospital authorities have now applied for water and electricity connection. A lift is also being installed.

“We are looking at making the facility available for the public within the next two months,” said Dr. Kar.

Stating that the dharamshala facility is available for patients at All India Institute of Medical Science and Safadarjung Hospital, Dr. Kar elaborated: “The patient load that we have here is not only from Delhi but from across the country. Several poor patients are treated here and it becomes impossible for them to bear the cost of travel for continuous follow-ups.”

The hospital, which has now grown to more than 1,000 bedded facility, is spread over 34 acres. The hospital has an exclusive nursing home comprising 50 rooms and a maternity nursing home of 20 rooms. The hospital caters to the needs of Central Government Health Scheme beneficiaries and dignitaries besides other general patients.