Defunct ACs force doctors to sweat during surgeries

Manmeet Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 14

The defunct air conditioners (ACs) at the operation theatre at the ENT wing of Government Medical College, performing surgeries has become a tough job for the doctors as they complain of uneasiness and increased chances of infection among patients.

A doctor on duty, pleading anonymity, said the air conditioners have not worked even for a single day during the current season. He said that they have brought the matter into the notice of higher-ups.

As the surgeries are normally conducted in closed rooms with all doors and windows shut to rule out chances of infection, the absence of functional air conditioners makes things troublesome for the doctors and patients.

Doctors say that even a drop of sweat from the surgeon’s body falling on the wound of a patient can give a rise to infection and prolong the healing process. Last year, a surgeon had fainted as he was in the operation theatre for six hours sans air conditioning. Similar instances have occurred on other occasions also.

A faculty member at the college said air conditioners should be functional. “When people have air conditioners at homes and cars, a person who has a habit of living in air-conditioned environment cannot keep his calm in heat,” he said.

While the surgeons are troubled due to defunct ACs, poor patients too are managing even without fans.

Medical Superintendent Dr Surinder Pal said the demand for air conditioners had been raised.

Officials admitted that surgeons had highlighted the problem as it was not healthy to operate upon a patient when the doctors exude sweat and feel uncomfortable.