Lack of neurosurgeons hits KIMS patients hard

HUBBALLI: Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences is facing a shortage of neurosurgeons from the past few months. The sanctioned strength of neurosurgeons at the hospital is four but KIMS currently has just two of them.
Famed as the largest government hospital of North Karnataka, KIMS on an average receives 70 accident cases every month. With only two neurosurgeons available, the doctors are performing surgeries based on the severity of the patient’s condition say sources.
A source added that till last week, the hospital had only one neurosurgeon. Another doctor had joined work a week ago.
KIMS had four neurosurgeons until a few months ago. However, all of them quit after an incident. A doctor at the hospital told STOI that the neurosurgeons quit after a youth from Gadag district died at the hospital and a few farmer leaders protested outside KIMS alleging medical negligence.
The protest had hurt the doctors and they decided to quit by saying the job was not safe and they were not getting enough recognition, the doctor added.
After they quit, KIMS had no neurosurgeons for a quite a few days. There were reports that then many patients were sent to private hospitals for treatment.
When contacted, KIMS director Dr Ramalingappa Antartani told STOI that they have hired two neurosurgeons. He added that KIMS had made an arrangement of neurosurgeons on a temporary basis. “KIMS had entered into a pact with a few private doctors keeping in mind that the service should not be hampered. Recently we appointed two doctors and the remaining vacant posts will be filled at the earliest,” he said.
In 2013, KIMS had to face a similar situation. KIMS and the Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Dimhans) had signed an MoU to share resources and improve their functioning.
Under the pact, KIMS would share its infrastructure at the neurology department with Dimhans and in return, the latter would extend services of its neurosurgeons to treat patients at KIMS. Dimhans was entitled to use the facilities for its patients too.
KIMS was forced to explore this option as only one neurologist was working against the sanctioned four posts at time too. It is said that KIMS had assigned general surgeons as replacements and was referring patients with complicated issues to private hospitals.