VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: All the Operation Theatres (OTs) of the ‘premier’ Government Medical College (GMC) and its Associated Hospitals are shut for the past ten days as some senior doctors want to benefit private nursing homes where they are working as private consultants. The hospital administration, however, attributes non availability of funds for procuring Liquid Diesel Oil (LDO) required to run the theater lights and steam machines in the OTs.
Over 50 surgeries are carried out in the Government Medical College (GMC) per day in normal course, which forces patients to wait of months. However, the delayed facility has also suffered broken-down due to ‘funds constraint’.
Hospital records reveal about number of patients having been given dates in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. This generally drives the patients to private clinics.
Principal GMC Dr Ghanshyam, when contacted, said ” Due to lack of funds, we are unable to procure LDO.” Every year LDO worth Rs one crore is required by the GMC Jammu”, he said, adding “I have initiated the process to purchase auto cloves to run steam machines on electricity.
“No one has ever thought of changing the old boilers which run only on LDO,’ the Principal said, adding, “The electric system is economical as compared to diesel boilers.
Insiders, however, maintained that the delay in procuring LDO is being made to force patients to the private nursing homes.
Besides, the Cath Lab of Department of Cardiology, only one emergency theater is working that too only in for accident cases. For all other surgeries like Orthopedics, ENT, Eyes, Gen Surgeries, the patients are rushing to private nursing homes.
Kulbushan Sharma whose wife was scheduled to be operated upon on Thursday said, “I was asked to bring the patient on 11th September, 2014 and now we are being told to go to private clinic.” He quoted para medical staff saying that the OTs at GMC will be operational only after two to three weeks.
Similar were the woes of a Rajouri based resident, Abdul Kharim, whose brother was to be operated this week. “Now, we are going to Amristsar for ortho surgery as my brother has suffered severe fracture last week.
Juniors doctors say, “We are helpless; we are just carrying out minor surgeries in the Emergency Wing. However, major surgeries need to be conducted in OTs only”.