Srinagar, July 16: The sole trauma hospital of the Valley, Bone and Joint Barzulla is facing shortage of fracture implants from the past few months forcing the attendants of patients to buy the equipment from the open market.
 Sources in the hospital told Greater Kashmir that the implants, which cost from Rs 5000 to 20,000, depending up on the body part wherein it is used, and given free of cost to the patients at B&J, is out of stock. “The attendants of patients needing these implants are asked by the doctors to purchase the equipment from the market,” sources said adding the authorities failed to procure the items despite numerous reminders by the doctors.
 They said the patients arriving from the remote areas of the Valley were badly hit due to the shortage of these implants. “The patients arriving from far-off areas are mostly impoverished and not able to purchase the equipment due to which their treatment is hindered,” source added.
 The patients, sources said were also facing severe hardships and inconvenience due to non-functioning of the elevator. “The attendants are seen ferrying their patients on stretchers and on their back to the wards and operation theatre, which is at the 3rd floor,” sources said adding that ferrying of patients in such manner, could prove harmful as their injury could get aggravated if they fell from the stretcher after receiving jolt from the passerby. The authorities, sources said failed to rectify the snag developed in the elevator despite witnessing the plight of patients ferried on stretchers.
 Sources reveal that the emergency theatre established in the hospital was not functioning causing hardships to the patients suffering from fractures. “The emergency theatre is used for treating fractures which needs to be fixed within 24 hours. But with the non-availability of such facility in the hospital, the patients suffering from such disease have to wait till the surgeries are finished in the routine theatre,” they said adding that emergency theatre was functional in Jammu Government Medical College and was offering services to the incoming patients.
 Sources said the C-Arm X-ray machine (used during surgeries) which should remain available in the hospital for 24-hours is being not allowed to use after 4 PM, adding the hospital was also devoid of basic equipments including cannulated screw driver. 
 When contacted, the in charge Medical Superintendent of the B&J, Dr Muneer Masoodi said, the elevator could not be repaired as the mechanic belonged to Rainawari area and was stuck in curfew. He said 200 implants/fixters were airlifted from New Delhi four days back and the hospital administration was procuring more in the coming days and had placed orders. “Implants are of 400-500 types and some might not be in the stock,” he said. Dr Muneer said the emergency theatre was not operational as C-Arm was yet to be fitted inside it. He said the hospital was providing quality medicare facilities to the people.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST