Dysfunctional autoclave puts patients in tizzy

Patients at the government-aided Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) are going through harrowing times as the central autoclave machine has been lying defunct for the last 10 to 12 days. Autoclave machines are used for cleansing and sterilizing things like doctors’ gowns,drapes,gloves,and equipment that are required during every operation.

“It is true that the central autoclave machine is lying defunct for the last 10 to 12 days,” said a senior doctor of the hospital. The hospital also has some small autoclaves machines,which are installed in different departments. “Around 70 to 80 per cent of the operations are getting delayed or cancelled and this can trigger a bigger crisis unless resolved soon,” the doctor said.

Hare Krishna Chanda,the deputy superintendent of the hospital,said,“We have told the health department about it.