Times of India: Nagpur: Sunday, 23 April 2023.
The department of cardiovascular thoracic surgery (CVTS) at Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) attached to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, is facing an acute shortage of balloons required for the open-heart surgeries. Due to this, 11 out of the 22 surgeries approved and funded by the state government under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MPJAY), and other schemes are on hold.
The neurology department also has a waiting list of 40 days, claimed a social organization Patients’ Right Forum (PRF). “A total of 22 surgeries were approved in February under MPJAY in the CVTS department, but only 11 patients were operated on. The reason for this is that the necessary materials are not available,” said Raj Khandare, of the PRF. The forum got this information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
“It is unfair that necessary material for surgery is not available even after the monitory approval under government schemes” Khandare said.
Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is one of the most critical devices for cardiac patients. There is no alternative to it. The GMCH authorities accepted that there is a shortage of balloons even though the procurement process for the same has been initiated.
Dr Bhushan Mahajan, special executive officer of the SSH, said: “We have already submitted an order for 10 balloons but received only 2 till date. We have raised the issue with the government authorities too,” he said.
Dhanvant Shah, a leading supplier of IABP said that the shortage is being felt across the country. “The primary reason cited is shortage of raw material,” he said.
PRF has urged the government to ensure the supply to save lives. “Hundreds of patients from poor families prefer GMCH, as they get the treatment free of cost here under various government schemes,” said Khandare.
The department of cardiovascular thoracic surgery (CVTS) at Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) attached to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, is facing an acute shortage of balloons required for the open-heart surgeries. Due to this, 11 out of the 22 surgeries approved and funded by the state government under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MPJAY), and other schemes are on hold.
The neurology department also has a waiting list of 40 days, claimed a social organization Patients’ Right Forum (PRF). “A total of 22 surgeries were approved in February under MPJAY in the CVTS department, but only 11 patients were operated on. The reason for this is that the necessary materials are not available,” said Raj Khandare, of the PRF. The forum got this information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
“It is unfair that necessary material for surgery is not available even after the monitory approval under government schemes” Khandare said.
Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) is one of the most critical devices for cardiac patients. There is no alternative to it. The GMCH authorities accepted that there is a shortage of balloons even though the procurement process for the same has been initiated.
Dr Bhushan Mahajan, special executive officer of the SSH, said: “We have already submitted an order for 10 balloons but received only 2 till date. We have raised the issue with the government authorities too,” he said.
Dhanvant Shah, a leading supplier of IABP said that the shortage is being felt across the country. “The primary reason cited is shortage of raw material,” he said.
PRF has urged the government to ensure the supply to save lives. “Hundreds of patients from poor families prefer GMCH, as they get the treatment free of cost here under various government schemes,” said Khandare.
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