Shame: Lack of equipments forcing MAMC surgeons to close their Operation Theatre

New Delhi: Taking a strong stand on shortage of essential requirements to provide surgical care to delhi population at on the premier most medical institutions, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), the Head of the Department recently took a difficult decision announcing the closure of the surgical operation theatre

The decision that was communicated via an office order by the HOD Surgery Department, to concerned officials including Principal Secretary (health),delhi government, Dean MAMC, Director, LNJP hospital as well as all doctors and nurses concerned with the anaesthesia and surgery department highlighted the pitiful conditions in which the doctors were operating

There is serious shortage of equipment in OT 1 and the hospital has failed to procure important surgical items used in the operation theatre like laparoscopic sets, operation tables, patient transfer trolleys, post operative ICU beds, operation theatre ceiling lights, C Arm, Multi-Parameter Monitors and several other important equipment used for operation of major elective cases. It has become increasingly challenging and stressful to maintain the standard of care of surgery and the department has been maintaining optimum care despite lack of these basic essential equipment. The department has sent numerous demands to the hospital procurement section and several meetings have been held with the Medical Director apprising the officials about the critical situation.

The Order issued by Dr Pawnindra Lal, a Dr BC roy awardee, known for his various contributions to the department of surgery at MAMC, narrated the plight faced by many senior government doctors and how sometimes they have to resort to "jugaad" to run their departments and ensure that patient care is not affected

"The undersigned (Dr lal) has managed to use expensive laparoscopic equipment on LOAN BASIS as DEMO for a period of 18 months now from various companies so that the patient care is unaffected and the patients continue to get state of the art treatment and the training of the resident doctors remains unaffected. This was done in the hope that the hospital would eventually be able to procure these items, To the best of my knowledge, the same have not been processed or have been put on the back burner or shelved. Though some consumable items have been procured, the attention to infrastructure equipment has been lacking completely. Lack of a technician has also led to one Major OT to be lying closed."

Taking a strong stance in the light of the scenario, the office order called for CLOSURE OF OPERATION THEATRE from 1st December, 2019

"At the present moment, it is highly unsafe to operate in the current Operation Theatres as these OTs are lacking in basic essential items as highlighted above. As such, this office is left with no option but to order the CLOSURE OF OPERATION THEATRE ONE (First Floor) I.e. OT A, B, C & D wef 1st December 2019 in “PUBLIC INTEREST”," the order stated.