Patients at receiving end as SKIMS suspends advanced spinal surgeries

SRINAGAR: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Bemina, has stopped performing advanced spinal surgery after the suspension of renowned spinal surgeon Prof Saheel Maajid over a verbal altercation with the head of the institute.

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 10

The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Bemina, has stopped performing advanced spinal surgery after the suspension of renowned spinal surgeon Prof Saheel Maajid over a verbal altercation with the head of the institute.

Spinal operations are unlikely to resume at SKIMS, Bemina, until Maajid is reinstated even as patients are being referred to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, for surgery, which costs nearly Rs 3 lakh in government hospitals in Kashmir.

“A decision was taken to temporarily suspend high-end spinal surgeries until an alternative arrangement is made. The junior consultants are unwilling to carry out such surgeries, which involve high risk and can lead to permanent disability or death of the patient,” said a faculty member at SKIMS, Bemina.

SKIMS principal Reyaz Untoo has told his faculty members not to talk to press about the issue, calling it a violation of service rules.

Following the suspension of Maajid on November 17, the faculty member said two patients had been referred to the PGIMER for undergoing scoliosis surgery — a surgery for correction of abnormal lateral curvature of the spine. “Patients who need high-end spinal surgeries are rare. We have received five patients since November 17. After that patients have stopped coming here both for surgeries and follow-up,” he said.

Ishrat, who was due to have surgery at SKIMS, said the postponement of her operation – a week before it was due to take place — was a massive blow. Ishrat, hailing from Tangmarg, has been referred to the PGI for surgery.

A Class X student, Javaid Ahmad of Pulwama, had undergone the scoliosis surgery on July 23 after suffering a fracture in a cervical vertebra. Ahmad, who belongs to a poor family, needs two consultations in a month but after Maajid’s exit, he is on the risk of slipping into major complications.

Surgeries not stopped, says superintendent

Dr Shafa Deva, medical superintendent, denied they had stopped the advanced spinal surgeries. “We haven't received patients who need to be referred outside,” Deva said.