Chennai's Urgent Call: Residents Demand 7-Day Hospital Access at Corporation Facilities

A groundswell of demand is rising across Chennai as residents urgently call upon the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to extend the operating hours of its hospitals and dispensaries to include Sundays and public holidays. Currently, these crucial public health facilities largely shut their doors on these days, creating significant gaps in essential healthcare access and pushing countless families into financial distress.

For many Chennaiites, particularly those from middle and lower-income groups, the closure of local Corporation hospitals on weekends and holidays presents a stark dilemma.

When a child falls ill, a vaccination is due, or a routine check-up is needed, families are left with limited options. The most immediate alternative is often a private hospital or clinic, which, while accessible, comes with a hefty price tag that many simply cannot afford.

Residents from areas like Anna Nagar and K.K.

Nagar are at the forefront of this advocacy, highlighting the critical need for continuous service. "When our local Corporation dispensary is closed, where do we go for a simple fever or a dressing change on a Sunday?" asks a concerned resident. "The emergency wards of major government hospitals are always open, but for non-urgent yet necessary consultations, vaccinations, or basic diagnostics, we are left stranded."

The issue isn't just about convenience; it's about equitable access to healthcare.

The current policy inadvertently forces families to either incur substantial out-of-pocket expenses at private facilities or, even more worryingly, to delay treatment until the next working day. Such delays can exacerbate minor ailments, turning them into more serious conditions, and undermine preventive health efforts like timely vaccinations and regular health screenings.

While some larger government hospitals operate on a 24/7 basis for emergencies, the Corporation's network of primary healthcare centres and dispensaries forms the backbone of community health.

These local facilities are vital for primary care, offering consultations, basic lab tests, and dispensing medicines at minimal or no cost. Their closure on weekends and holidays undermines their potential as frontline providers of public health.

This passionate appeal from Chennai's residents underscores a fundamental need: that healthcare, especially primary care, should not be a luxury restricted by the calendar.

Opening GCC hospitals and dispensaries on all seven days of the week, including public holidays, would be a transformative step, ensuring that affordable, quality healthcare remains within reach for every citizen, every day.