Chandigarh: 8 OTs locked, PGI surgery waiting time gets stretched up to 18 months

In a working environment where getting an elective surgery done at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) already entails a waiting time of three months to a year, eight non-functional operational theatres, of 55, is adding to patient inconvenience. The locked/unused OTs form 15% of the total capacity.

In a working environment where getting an elective surgery done at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) already entails a waiting time of three months to a year, eight non-functional operational theatres (OT), of 55, is adding to patient inconvenience. The locked/unused OTs form 15% of the total capacity.

The PGI conducts around 80,000 major and minor surgeries a year. (HT File Photo)

The PGI conducts around 80,000 major and minor surgeries a year.

An OT can be used for 3 major or 10 minor surgeries a day or around 300 a month. If the locked OTs are used, around 3,600 more operations can be conducted. Poor OT management, shortage of staff and delay in buying equipment have led to the situation.

There are five OTs in the cardiac surgery department of which the ground floor facility has been locked for two years.

“This OT was created for emergency patients, but this was never made operational and we get referrals. It becomes difficult for surgeons to keep shuttling between the top and the ground floor. The ground floor does not have an ICU,” a surgeon said.

One of three OTs in Area 22 (emergency) is non-functional as there is no staff and equipment, claimed an orthopaedician.

“Emergency cases of fractures have to wait for 7-10 days. They need to be operated within a few hours of the injury,” said a senior orthopaedician, adding that OTs need to made functional round the clock.

SINGLE OT COMPLEX IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR

A senior faculty member said a major difficulty in efficient use of OTs was that these are spread across departments. “There is a project on to have one OT complex at the institute. Abroad, they have 60 operating rooms in one building,” he added.

PROFESSIONAL MANAGER NEEDED

“We need a full-time manager to coordinate with doctors, the administration, the staff and the patients. Traditionally, nursing in-charges have done this ,” said another doctor.

SHORTAGE OF 82 ANAESTHETISTS

A doctor claimed that the PGI needed to add at least 32 faculty members, 50 Senior Residents in the anaesthesia department and 30 more were needed. The institute was short of 75 technicians.