Gurgaon hospital yet to install equipment vital for treating dengue patients

The machine separates the blood’s four components — red cells, platelets, plasma and cryoprecipitate. The platelets are then given to patients suffering from malaria and dengue.

“The civil hospital was directed to install the machine and apprise the health department about it, but nothing has been done so far. In the showcause notice, we have asked officials of the hospital to inform us immediately about the status of the machine and why it has not been installed,” a senior official in the health department said.

“We have received the letter. We will be replying to it soon,”Dr Asrudin, principal medical officer, Gurgaon district, said.

Lack of treatment facilities and non-availability of equipment for separating platelets in the hospital has been a major concern.

Till last year, the equipment was only available at private hospitals and the civil hospital used to refer patients to the former.

“We did not have the machine till last year. But private hospitals used to provide the service at concessional rates for patients referred by the civil hospital. BPL patients availed the service free of cost,” Asrudin said.

The civil hospital has failed to install the machine due to lack of space, sources said. Though a room has been constructed for it, the functioning of the machine has to be supervised by the district civil surgeon.