In the past five years, the Sewri-based Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)' s Group of TB Hospital has conducted more than 9,421 surgeries. The response to a Right To Information (RTI) application also states that in the same span of time, 62 surgeries were postponed for various reasons.
The RTI application was filed by activist Chetan Kothari. He received a response on September 5, which also states that as of now, five tuberculosis (TB) patients are awaiting surgery.
Out of the various reasons provided for postponing surgery, patients being unfit for an operation stood out as the main cause. Out of the 62 postponed ops, 38 TB patients were declared unfit.
The other reasons include — unavailability of blood, due to which nine patients couldn't undergo surgery. One patient missed surgery because of resident doctors' strike. Unavailability of an anesthetist, resident surgeon, laboratory issue, electricity shutdown, were some of the other reasons cited.
Also, in the past five years, only one TB death has been reported; the patient was in the waiting list.
Dr Lalitkumar Anande, medical superintendent of the TB Hospital, said: "To undergo surgery, there are few important criteria that TB patients need to fulfill to be eligible for a surgery. Before performing the surgery, surgeons need to be cautious as it is a matter of life and death. The doctors are bound to ensure that the other part of the lung is functioning normally and that there's timely intervention of medicine. The success rate of these surgeries is 30 per cent."
PAIN & PERSEVERANCE
- 9,421 TB surgeries conducted by Sewri hospital in last 5 years.
- 62 surgeries postponed for various reasons.
- 38 to 62 surgeries postponed as patients declared unfit.
- 1 waiting list patient died
- 30% Success rate of TB surgery
