Across Delhi govt hospitals, 1 in 4 operation theatres don’t function

According to a senior Delhi government official, one of the major reasons for non-functional OTs is the lack of “manpower”. “Hospitals are managing with 50% manpower. Moreover, during Covid, the government proposed to construct more hospitals. While beds have been doubled, major things are lacking including manpower, proper space for doctors, nurses or technicians to sit…,” said the official.

“Several hospitals have OTs but no staff like OT specialists and anaesthetists. A team of 6-10 people is required to conduct a surgery and due to lack of manpower, patients from such hospitals are referred to big ones like GTB… While these hospitals have functional OTs, the waiting time is higher due to which patients also face problems,” the official added.

To address the issue, the department has decided to form a committee to map manpower available for surgical procedures (especially to ensure round-the-clock OB&G and emergency procedures) in all government hospitals vis-à-vis infrastructure available and make a list of doctors along with their performance and the number of procedures they have conducted.

The committee comprises six people: Dr Suresh Kumar, Lok Nayak Hospital Medical Director (MD); Dr Ashmitta Rathore, GTB Hospital MD; Dr Manisha Aggarwal, HOD (Anaesthesia); Dr Monika Rana, Advisor, CDMO (South District), DGHS; Dr IP Singh, Specialist (Surgery) LBSH; and Vineet Saxena, System Analyst, H&FW.

“The committee was initially asked to submit its report in two weeks with recommendations. However, we have given it another 15 days as it’s a mammoth exercise,” said a senior officer.

The officer added that once the list is made, a team of doctors, each led by a surgeon, along with a support system for pre-operative and post-operative cases will be made.

“Once this is done, the process of conducting surgeries along with time schedules and duties for doctors will be made. A list of doctors will be made for every hospital with an OT facility. It will also reduce the burden on big hospitals, rush, and waiting time. Further, the public will also get timely treatment,” added the official.

Officials added that this procedure will also stop doctors who visit private hospitals for consultancy services.