RTI query: 1 in 6 ventilators at JJ Hospital not functional

One in nearly six ventilators at Sir JJ Hospital, the state’s largest public health facility, is not functional, the hospital has told the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in response to a right to information (RTI) query.

Out of 83 ventilators at the hospital, 15 are non-functional. While 12 are undergoing repair, spare parts of three ventilators. which were donated by the Japanese government, are not available. The RTI query was filed by activist Chetan Kothari, who sought details about shortage of ventilators in the city’s major public hospitals.

Dr Ajay Chandanwale, dean, Sir JJ Hospital, refused to comment on the issue and said he was currently on leave.

In 2017, Sir JJ Hospital, in response to a similar RTI query, revealed that of the 69 ventilators in seven wards, 15 ventilators were either not working or scrapped because they could not be repaired.

Dr Sanjay Surase, medical superintendent of the hospital, said he did not have information on non-functioning ventilators.

“I will have to ask the departments concerned and take independent responses on the availability of ventilators. I will not be able to comment on the issue till then,” said Dr Surase.

“Ten of these 15 ventilators are from important wards such as medical intensive care unit [MICU] and coronary care unit [CCU] where most critical cases of the hospital are treated,” said Kothari.

“These wards frequently attend to critical cases referred by district hospitals and medical colleges,” he said.

Defunct ventilators, in turn, force families of patients to turn to private hospitals where costs of treatment are much higher, said Kothari.

First Published: Apr 25, 2019 03:23 IST