Chandigarh: The sole chemist shop in Government Multi Speciality Hospital in Sector 16 (GMSH-16) was being leased out since its allotment in 1993 on the basis of UT's Leasing Out of Government Property Policy 2000. Consequently, no tendering was possible. The UT health secretary is examining this notification and plans to stop this long-term lease so that rent can be determined by market rates.
However, sources said the increase in rent will sitreally heavy on patients despite a nominal discount of 15%-30% on the medicines being deliberated by the UT health department.
Sources said the same policy is applicable to the bank leased out in the premises. However, only the amount of rent received in chemist shops is under comparison with other government institutions (where the footfall of patients and treatment is different from GMSH-16).
