Operations being conducted with portable light at Delhi hospital

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government's Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Hospital had an embarrassing moment last week, when doctors were forced to operate upon a patient under portable light in the hospital's common emergency operation theatre (OT).

Sources said the incident at the state-run institute is emblematic of the rot in India's public health system, which is responsible for some of the world's worst health indicators.

According to sources, the common emergency OT at the hospital has been running without appropriate lighting for the last eight months.

One doctor has to hold the portable light for hours, while others concentrate on the operation.

A doctor, who did not wish to be named, said that an IVC tear on a patient who suffered a bullet wound was conducted on December 14 in the OT under just one working portable light, as none of the lights were working.

He further said that two senior residents were given a memo, when they referred a case to another hospital for surgery due to non-functioning lights.

The doctor added many surgeries have been performed the help of a portable light over the last few months.

It has been learnt that even the hospital administration has not paid heed to the problem.

The doctor further said that if the portable light suddenly stops functioning in the middle of a surgery, the situation could prove to be serious.

However, a senior official at the hospital informed media person that lights in the OT have since been fixed.