Waiting time for orthopaedic surgeries increases at AIIMS, Delhi
orthopaedic surgeries at AIIMS, Delhi has increased significantly from six months to 12 months. This dire situation is attributed to the alarmingly low functionality of the operation theatres, leaving countless patients in a state of despair and uncertainty, reported TOI.
Officials said that only four or five of the seven OTs are functional due anaesthesia department's inability to man all the OTs. The number of surgeries per day has gone down from 30 to 20, leading to a backlog and longer wait times.
Urgent cases like tumour operations and cauda equina in the spine receive emergency classification. The substantial delays in scheduled procedures particularly affect disadvantaged patients who travel from distant areas. Accoring to surgeons, the situation is because of the inability to maintain routine surgical schedules.
Othropaedic surgeons had formally brought the issue to the notice of the director in October. Prof Nirupam Madan, the medical superintendent, issued an authorisation on November 23 for the use of all seven operating theatres, but surgical team continues to face restrictions when trying to operate all theatres simultaneously.
In the letter written to the director, faculty members from the orthopaedic department stated, «This is to express our profound concern regarding the current operational status at the orthopaedic operation theatres which appear to be adversely affected since July 2024. The anaesthesia team is currently allocating only four or five operation theatres for our use, resulting in
