UT mulls allowing nursing homes in residential areas

CHANDIGARH: Plans are afoot to permit the conversion of residential plots into nursing home sites in the city with an aim to reduce the burden on government hospitals.

The UT administration has directed a standing committee of the UT administrator’s advisory council to examine the issue and report on it.

The standing committee on urban infrastructure and planning for the city, a sub-committee of the advisory council, is scheduled to meet this week and deliberate on reviving the 1999 policy which allowed nursing homes on residential plots.

As per the policy, the minimum plot size for nursing home was 500 sq yard and parking space was mandated both inside and outside the premises depending upon number of beds available.

In 2005, UT had discontinued the provision of new nursing homes in residential areas in view of the traffic congestion and parking problems these posed.

MOVE FOLLOWS MP’S LETTER

City MP Kirron Kher had recently written to the administration, stating, “The demand for allowing nursing homes in residential areas has been a persistent one by different associations. There is paucity of private doctors in the city and a lot of burden is on government hospitals. Chandigarh government hospitals are also catering to the patients of neighbouring states. If new private nursing homes are allowed in residential areas across Chandigarh, as is prevalent in neighbouring states, it will certainly decrease the burden on government hospitals and people will get better health facilities at their doorsteps.”

She added, “This will also generate more employment opportunities for medical and paramedical staff.”