Karnal hospital sees surge in emergency surgeries

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 19

The Karnal Civil Hospital witnessed a significant rise in emergency surgeries during the Covid-induced lockdown in comparison with last year.

As per information, 816 emergency surgeries were performed from April to July, the period when the lockdown remained in force. In the corresponding period last year, the number of emergency surgeries stood at 393.

Besides, 670 deliveries were performed through the Cesarean section in the Civil Hospital during this period in comparison with just 50 deliveries in the corresponding period last year.

This April, 149 emergency surgeries were conducted against 97 last April. In May, 195 surgeries were performed against 109 last year. The number stood at 200 for June this year while, for last year, it was 76. As for July, 272 surgeries were performed against 111 last year.

Civil Hospital officials attribute the surge to two things: one, most private hospitals had put off emergency surgeries during the lockdown and, two, the Civil Hospital was functioning as a non-Covid facility.

Besides local patients, people from nearby districts and Western Uttar Pradesh got their surgeries performed in the Karnal Civil Hospital, officials said.

The reason for the increase in deliveries at the Civil Hospital was that the gynaecology department at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC) had “stopped” non-Covid activities. All pregnant women were referred to the Civil Hospital.

Dr Ashwani Ahuja, Principal Medical Officer (PMO). “The Civil Hospital witnessed an increase in emergency surgeries as it was functional for non-Covid activities during the lockdown.”

Meanwhile, the Director General, Health Services, has directed all Civil Surgeons and PMOs to reinstate routine surgical and medical procedure.