Equipment shortage ‘delaying’ Laparoscopic surgeries in Jammu GMC

Jammu: Although nearly seven months during COVID pandemic when the Union Government ordered Unlock exercise across the country, the Out Patient Department (OPD) and surgeries facilities in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir also resumed but the shortage of equipment allegedly delaying Laparoscopic surgeries at one of the prominent hospitals, Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu.

Reliable sources in the hospital here said that earlier during COVID pandemic, oxygen shortage and ventilators hit the GMC functioning but now lack of adequate equipment for laparoscopic surgery has left the patients as well as the attendants in limbo.

“The patients suffering from problems like gall bladder, hernia, kidney stones, appendicitis, were eagerly waiting for the government hospitals to resume surgeries as they could not afford to get operated in private nursing homes but the equipment shortage, which has hampered the Laparoscopic machinery has left them in doldrums,” sources expressed.

Sources said that patients either admitted to the hospital or those visiting for check up with regard to related problems are being asked to be in queue or wait for ‘open surgeries’ as Laparoscopic machines reportedly are not fully operational in the hospital.

“Formal incisions are being performed, but such patients have to be admitted to hospitals for operation and due to this exercise, the attendants preferring to go to private hospitals or postpone surgeries to prevent COVID infections,” sources added.

Official sources said, “if the patient remains hospitalized for a long time, there is a high probability of infection. Therefore, the attendant avoids having incisions surgery”.

“The equipment needed for Laparoscopic surgeries has not been purchased to run the show which has triggered chaos and piling up cases of surgeries in the hospital,” sources added.

Laparoscopic surgeries are performed with cameras with minimal cut following which the patient does not have to stay in the hospital for long but due to machinery shortage, only private hospitals are currently available for them.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha during his visit to the GMC had claimed that there is no dearth of funds for the hospital but why the laparoscopic equipment required is not being purchased or delayed.