Chandigarh: Despite receiving 65 ventilators under the PM CARES fund, the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chandigarh continues to grapple with a critical shortage of life-saving equipment. The issue gained prominence after a Times of India report detailed a patient's ordeal of being transferred between PGI and GMCH-32 due to the lack of functional ventilators.
Official Response and Challenges
UT Chief Secretary H Rajesh Prasad stated, "All suggestions can be explored. Pooling of ventilators, buying more, and upgrading infrastructure wherever required — we will look into it and take care of it." However, the hospital administration offers a different perspective. Prof Ravneet Kaur, Director-Principal of GMCH-32, revealed that the PM CARES ventilators were found non-functional shortly after delivery. "We have been stuck in a cycle of extensive repairs and repeated follow-ups with manufacturing companies to make the machines operational," she said.
Manpower and Equipment Woes
Beyond equipment issues, the hospital faces a severe manpower shortage. There is an urgent need for additional senior and junior resident doctors, as well as technical staff, to manage the rising patient load. "The existing staff is severely overworked and struggling to maintain standard levels of care," Prof Ravneet added. Officials acknowledge that resolving the technical deadlock with PM CARES manufacturers and expediting recruitment are critical to easing the crisis.
Ventilator Inventory and Demand
GMCH received 65 ventilators under the PM CARES scheme in 2020. After about a year of efficient use, the hospital claims these ventilators are now defective. The hospital has around 40 other functional ventilators, while demand at any given time ranges between 80 and 100. The PM CARES ventilators are basic units without humidifiers, requiring dedicated power sockets and oxygen cylinders, but they can convert normal beds into ICU beds.
Past Concerns and Expert Input
Concerns over ventilator availability surfaced three months ago during a surprise inspection by a member of the Punjab Human Rights Commission. The panel reportedly found a patient being manually ventilated with an ambu bag as doctors had not arrived to declare the patient dead. The then medical superintendent stated the department had nine ventilators but lacked a technician to operate them. Experts note that nursing staff can be trained within a day to operate ventilators in the absence of technicians.
Key Numbers
- 65 ventilators: Received under PM CARES in 2020; used efficiently for a year, now defective.
- 40 other ventilators: Currently functional in the hospital.
- Demand: Ranges between 80 and 100 at any given time.
The hospital administration continues to work with manufacturers to rectify defects and procure new ventilators through the GeM portal, though quality concerns make the process time-consuming.
