Patients in the orthopaedics department of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), located in Sector 32, are facing significant delays in implant surgeries due to the malfunction of a C-arm machine. This critical medical imaging device is essential for guiding surgeons in real-time during procedures involving bone fractures.
The malfunction has led to a disruption of the hospital”s surgical schedule, forcing patients to wait two to three weeks for their surgeries, a stark contrast to the previous wait time of about one week. The C-arm machine is crucial for various surgeries, including spinal fusion, laminectomy, and vertebroplasty, which require precise imaging to ensure the correct placement of screws, plates, and rods.
Hospital officials have cited an administrative oversight as the root of this crisis. They claim that despite being aware of the machine”s impending operational expiration, the necessary steps to procure replacements were not taken in time. The orthopaedics department had requested the purchase of four new C-arm machines at an estimated total of ₹ 5 crore, but no action has been taken to fulfill this request.
This delay has impacted both emergency and elective surgeries, causing trauma patients to be treated in elective operation theatres and resulting in a backlog of cases. Currently, the GMCH”s orthopaedics department, which has a total of 94 beds including 20 in the trauma block, operates with three C-arm machines—two designated for elective surgeries and one in the trauma section.
An anonymous official confirmed that the C-arm machine in the trauma block had exceeded its approved lifespan. The machine, which began operation in 2013, was granted a two-year extension in 2023, but that extension has now expired, leaving the machine out of order for several weeks and severely hampering emergency medical services.
As of Monday, at least ten patients were confirmed to be waiting for their implant surgeries. Among them is Shyam Singh, a 50-year-old resident of Baddi with a fractured left arm who has seen his surgery postponed twice—first on September 27 and again on October 23—due to prioritization of emergency cases. His surgery is now scheduled for October 29.
Another patient, Brijender Kaur from Nawanshahr, has been in the orthopaedics ward for 14 days, bedridden and enduring severe pain from a left hip injury. Her family reported that doctors initially assured her that surgery would happen the day after her admission, but it has been postponed multiple times without clear explanations.
Similarly, Krishna, 41, who was referred from Ambala Civil Hospital on October 22, has experienced repeated delays in her surgery. She expressed her frustration, stating that they were initially informed the procedure would be performed the following day, only to be told it would be postponed yet again.
Other patients awaiting their surgeries include Shradhanand, Manjeet, Ram Swaroop, Sonia, Vimal Kumar, Balwinder Singh, and Prem Chand. Resident doctors have voiced concerns that the limited number of surgeries is hindering their surgical training. In response to inquiries, GMCH director Dr. GP Thami stated, “I will look into the matter.”
