Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 10 2010:
Shortage of sterilised cotton allegedly led to postponement of operation on a patient in RIMS, which is planning to be upgraded to the status of AIIMS.
The patient was reportedly sent back by the attending doctors to come back after a week.
Staff of the premier medical institute, however, have asserted that although the stock of sterilised cotton ran out in the last couple of days as the vehicle bringing them suffered some technical snag, now there is enough sterilised cotton in stock and the same have been made available to the patients from today.
On the other hand, a senior doctor who has retired from service after long years of experience in the administration of RIMS, pointed out that sterilised cotton should be made available in any hospital all the time.
The senior doctor insisted that adequate sterilised cotton should be ensured to every patient in any hospital.
For this to ensure, it has been norms for the staff in charge of the stock to report the stock position to the related higher authorities well in advance, he said, adding that it is indeed sad to hear that surgical operation had to be deferred on account of shortage of sterilised cotton in RIMS.
In connection with the alleged postponement of operation on account of shortage of sterilised cotton in RIMS today, the patient party informed The Sangai Express that the patient was admitted to the OPD of surgical department of RIMS for operation on his leg for tumour.
After examining the condition of the patient, the doctors recommended him for operation today itself.
However, soon after the doctors conveyed that the operation could not be performed today as there is no sterilised cotton.
Accordingly, the patient was sent back with the suggestion that he should come back after a week's time.
When The Sangai Express went to RIMS to meet the Medical Superintendent in connection with this incident, he was found to be on leave and out of Manipur on some personal matters.
As the PA of the Medical Superintendent suggested, efforts were made to meet the in-charge officer.
But he too could not be found in the office.
When some of the sub-ordinate staff were approached, they disclosed that there was shortage of sterilised cotton in the premier medical institute in the last couple of days as the vehicle assigned to bring the supply developed some technical snag.
However, now there is enough sterilised cotton in the stock and the same have been made available to the patients.