Autoclave room with five machines lying unused

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, February 2

Five autoclave machines are lying unused at the Civil Hospital for the past almost two years.

A separate autoclave room was made by the hospital authorities two years ago so that all necessary sterilisation of the medical tools could be done at a single place. Located near the canteen, the main problem that is being faced by the hospital authorities is safe transportation of medical equipment and tools after sterilisation since the building of the Civil Hospital is located at a little distance and carrying sterilised equipment in an open environment will defer the entire process of sterilising. The building of the Mother and Child Hospital is close, but sterilised objects still cannot be carried in open air.

Autoclave is a machine that sterilises tools and equipment. It uses pressure and steam to reach and maintain a temperature that is too high for any microorganism or their spores to live.

Nearly Rs6 lakh was spent on these machines and a separate room was also set up and all necessary connections such as water and power was provided. But these machines are now turning into a white elephant as they are not being put to use. The hospital has two operation theatres and both have separate autoclave machines. Despite this, a separate autoclave room was made.

Sources said one autoclave machine would be shifted to the operation theatre of the Civil Hospital, as the existing machine was facing some problem.

Dr Geeta, Senior Medical Officer at the Civil Hospital, said they were looking for a safe transportation facility of the equipment. She said they cannot start using the autoclave room unless a transportation facility was acquired by them.

“We need some vehicle with the help of which sterilised tools and equipment can be taken to the respective operation theatres. The amount for acquiring a vehicle is too much for the hospital to bear. Rest everything is in place and done and now all we need is a vehicle,” she said.

Nearly Rs 6lakh spent on machines 

• Autoclave is a machine that sterilises tools and equipment. It uses pressure and steam to reach and maintain a temperature that is too high for any microorganism or their spores to live.
• Nearly Rs 6 lakh was spent on these machines. But these are now turning into a white elephant as they are not being put to use.