Ludhiana, April 22 -- The intensive care unit (ICU) at the civil hospital here is scheduled to open by month end after remaining shut for over two years, according to senior medical officer (SMO) Dr Harpreet Singh.

The eight-bedded facility was shut due to the shortage of staff. Now, according to Dr Singh, 16 staff nurses trained for ICU services, eight multi-task workers, and two technicians have been sanctioned under the National Health Mission to get the ICU running.

On an average, as many as 70-80 patients are admitted to various departments of the hospital every day, and five-ten of the severely ill patients or accident cases are referred to PGI Chandigarh, Rajendra Hospital in Patiala, and government hospital in Sector 32, Chandig...