Chandigarh: Planning failures have left critical clinical services at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI) in limbo for nearly three years at the transplant surgery department. The problem stems from a decision to remove air handling units (AHUs) from the ground floor to allow the nephrology department to expand its clinical services. However, this move was reportedly executed without a definitive plan for where the units would be relocated.
Root Cause of the Deadlock
While initial proposals suggested moving the AHUs to the roof, the plan was repeatedly blocked by objections that the installation would cause the roof to leak, especially following recent waterproofing work. This administrative deadlock has led to multiple changes in the project's direction over several years.
Impact on Transplant Services
The issue has persisted since the PGI caught fire in 2023. Initially, placing the units on the roof was planned, but leaking was reasoned as a major obstacle, stating the roof would leak. Currently, engineering teams are making a platform to place the AHUs. In the meantime, patients for transplant surgery are being operated on in different operation theatres. The prolonged renovation work has forced a makeshift arrangement for medical services.
We were told that the operation will be conducted at a different level, while we have to come to the doctor for evaluation which is not near the OT, said a patient's relative. Operation theaters (OTs) have been scattered, requiring both medical staff and patients to shuttle between different areas for procedures and post-operative recovery, said a faculty member.
Staff and Patient Challenges
Staff members report that the volume of work has decreased due to these logistical hurdles, as equipment and patients must be constantly moved across different wings of the hospital. While administration officials have reportedly claimed the issues are being resolved, the timeline remains extended. We have found a resolution and soon the AHU will be placed enabling the OT to be operational, said Dr Sameer Aggarwal, faculty in-charge of the engineering wing.
Additional Information
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About the Author
Shimona Kanwar is a senior assistant editor with The Times of India, who has been with TOI since 2005. She covers health and science. With a background in science and English literature, she attempts at simplifying complex health and science stories, making them accessible and engaging for a wide audience. Shimona is passionate about crafting narratives that resonate, ensuring her reporting is not only informative but also enjoyable to read, free of jargon, and deeply connected to people's lives.
