Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 20: Worth Rs 50 lakh ‘Heart Lung Machine, which plays a vital role while performing many significant surgeries, has been lying defunct for last over one year in Department of CTVS, Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), Jammu, while the authorities of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu are sleeping over the matter.
Sources said that the Heart Lung Machine model ‘SARNS 7000’ was purchased in 1984 from a USA company ‘SARNS” for about Rs 50 lakh. “But when the Super Speciality Hospital (SSH) came into existence, this Heart Lung Machine was shifted there from GMCH Jammu”, they said adding with the help of this machine numerous surgeries were conducted in GMCH Jammu and also some in SSH Jammu till Oct 2014, when this 3-decade old machine stopped functioning.
They said that since October 2014 this machine, which plays a vital role while performing many significant surgeries, has been lying defunct in Department of CTVS and the patients particularly poor are suffering badly, as in the absence of Heart Lung Machine, doctors are bound to refer them to PGI Chandigarh or ask them to wait till the new machine is purchased.
The significance of the ‘Heart Lung Machine’ can be gauged from the fact that this provides blood flow and respiration for the patient while the heart is stopped. The machine provides cardiopulmonary bypass, or mechanical circulatory support of the heart and lungs while performing various types of surgeries like coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and open-heart surgery.
Besides, the diseased heart or lung(s) is replaced by this technology, providing time for the organ(s) to heal. Also, in severe cases of hypothermia, a patient’s body temperature can be corrected by extracorporeal circulation with the heart-lung machine.
According to official sources, most of the parts of the Machine have been damaged and needed immediate replacement but as the machine has become outdated; its parts are not available in the market.
The sources said the manufacturing company itself has declared this model of Heart Lung Machine ‘obsolete’ and informed that its spare parts may not be available, as they have stopped its manufacturing long ago and presently producing IV generation model of the machine.
“Once or twice tenders for the procurement of the Heart Lung Machine were also floated by the department but due to poor response of the manufacturer or suppliers of the machine, tender could not be opened because as per rule there should be at least three bidders to open the tenders”, the sources said and added that the department also approached the administrative department to relax rules for purchase of the machine but the latter gave no response till date.
Sources said that if administration department permits and the local purchase committee gives a go ahead, the Medical College can purchase the machine on the rate contract of prestigious institutes of the Country like AIIMS, SKIMS and PGI Chandigarh by bypassing the bidding system, which has become a bottleneck in purchase of the machine, as there are very limited companies which manufacture this machine and all those are foreign companies, which showed least interest in the tenders floated earlier.
“Even the then Minister for H&ME, ARI and Trainings, Ch Lal Singh, had also directed the Medical College authorities to take steps for early procuring of Heart Lung Machine in March 2015 while chairing a faculty meeting at SSH Jammu but neither any fresh tender was floated nor the administrative department was approached by the GMCH authorities to relax rules for purchasing this machine which is of immense importance”, the sources maintained.
When contacted, Head, CTVS department, Dr Noor Ali, confirmed that the machine is not in working condition and is needed to be replaced with a new one. However, he refused to divulge more details.
Despite repeated calls, the Principal, GMCH Jammu, Dr Zahid Geelani, could not be contacted.
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