Endless wait for surgery at Delhi's GB Pant hospital | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
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Endless wait for surgery at Delhi's GB Pant hospital

Hindustan Times | By, New Delhi
Jul 10, 2015 12:13 PM IST

Shakuntala Devi has spent 16 days in ward 8 of the gastrointestinal department, waiting for a surgery to remove the stones. “I’ve been told I will have to wait for surgery, there are many patients before me,” she said.

Endless wait for surgery

Shakuntala Devi (with red bedsheet) waits for her turn at GB Pant hospital. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo)
Shakuntala Devi (with red bedsheet) waits for her turn at GB Pant hospital. (Saumya Khandelwal/HT Photo)

Shakuntala Devi, 40
Gall stones obstructing bile duct

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Shakuntala Devi, 40, has gall stones obstructing her bile duct, which has led to jaundice caused by excess bile accumulating in the blood. If left untreated, it might can to liver failure.

Devi has spent 16 days in ward 8 of the gastrointestinal department, waiting for a surgery to remove the stones. “I’ve been told I will have to wait for surgery, there are many patients before me,” she said.

Her turn finally came on Thursday, and she was asked to move to the waiting hall near the operation theatre at 6:00am. At 10 am, she was still waiting.

Critical medicine goes missing

Saroj Shah, 60
Has liver cirrhosis

Saroj Shah, 60, has liver cirrhosis, a disease in which scar tissues develop on the liver and lower its functioning. She’s travelled to Delhi with Chapra in Bihar with her husband, Bijender Shah, 65, and her three sons for her treatment at AIIMS, which they were told was “the best hospital in India”.

Since there was a shortage of beds at AIIMS, she was referred to GB Pant. “When we came here, we were told to go to the Emergency wing, from where we were sent to the OPD,” said Ashish, 30, Saroj’s eldest son. When Saroj fainted in the OPD, she was sent back to Emergency. “After taking her from one department to another, we were told nothing could be done and that she will die in a few months,” said Ashish, 30.

Saroj was prescribed Albumin injection, which costs around Rs 4,000. “It wasn’t available at the hospital dispensary and I do not have money to buy it. I don’t know what to do,” he said.

According to the hospital storekeeper, the injection has not been available at the hospital for three months and the CPA is still in the process of issuing tenders. “It will take at least three months more for the injection to be made available in the hospital,” said the store keeper.

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