By SUBEN PRADHAN
Sikkim State Government’s commitment to strengthening public health facilities and improving patient welfare, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Department G.T. Dhungel, today inaugurated a Water ATM at Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital, Gangtok.
The Water ATM has been installed with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support from Torrent Pharmaceuticals and is equipped with a capacity of 1,000 litres at a time. The facility dispenses both hot and cold purified drinking water and aims to provide safe, clean, and affordable drinking water to patients, attendants, visitors, and hospital staff.
The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of District Collector, Gangtok District Tushar G. Nikhare. The initiative has been facilitated by the Gangtok District Administration in collaboration with Torrent Pharma as part of efforts to enhance basic amenities at the state’s premier hospital.
The programme was attended by Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gangtok District Abhijit Patil; Medical Superintendent, STNM Hospital,Ruth Yonzon; General Manager, Torrent Pharma Suresh Nath Roy along with senior officials from the district administration, Health Department and representatives of the CSR partner.
Addressing the media Health Minister stated that the initiative was undertaken to prevent incidents arising from water contamination, particularly during the monsoon season. He said the Water ATM would ensure the availability of safe and purified drinking water at a nominal cost, making it accessible to all visitors. He clarified that the amount collected would be used solely for maintenance of the facility and He also thanked Torrent Pharmaceuticals for their CSR support and appreciated the efforts of the District Collector, Gangtok and his team for facilitating the project. He also commended the Medical Superintendent of STNM Hospital and her team for their cooperation. Highlighting quality assurance, the Minister informed that the water is purified through a UV-based filtration system to ensure safety and hygiene.
Emphasising the larger objective, the Minister noted that access to pure drinking water has become increasingly important amid rising concerns over water contamination across the country during Monsoon.He further announced that a water harvesting structure is also being developed at STNM Hospital to address long-term water availability challenges.
The installation of the Water ATM is expected to significantly enhance patient comfort and promote public health at STNM Hospital.
