Surgical procedure Halted Amid Energy Reduce At Punjab Hospital, Minister Responds

A bunch of docs performing a surgical procedure at a government-run hospital in Punjab’s Patiala have been compelled to halt the process after alleged steady energy outages, together with the emergency lights within the operation theatre (OT).

A viral video from Rajindra Hospital in Patiala exhibits the docs and employees standing across the affected person, who was being operated upon, and ready for the facility provide to renew, as {the electrical} gear have been affected. The video was shot by one of many docs, who raised issues over the properly being of the affected person and the potential for any adversity.

Punjab Well being Minister Balbir Singh, nonetheless, mentioned the facility backup programs on the hospital are “functioning with out concern” and that the physician had merely “panicked and recorded a video”. The hospital employees should keep “focussed on affected person care always”, he mentioned.

The facility backup programs at Rajindra hospital, Patiala are multi stage (3 hotlines) & functioning with out concern. At present, a neighborhood fault led to momentary lack of electrical energy. The UPS and generator backup functioned seamlessly & the surgical procedure was carried out with out concern. Affected person is… pic.twitter.com/gPmjJy9R5x

— Dr Balbir Singh (@AAPbalbir) January 24, 2025

Within the 56-second clip, the physician within the OT is heard saying that such instances of energy outages are inclined to recur on the hospital. It couldn’t be instantly ascertained when the video was shot.

“It’s not the primary time such a factor is going on (energy outage). It has been quarter-hour for the reason that energy went out. The ventilator has additionally shut down. If something occurs to the affected person, who will likely be accountable for this? The docs? All of the employees are standing right here, the ventilator has turned off,” the physician says.

Sources mentioned the facility provide is usually disrupted within the hospital, regardless of the provision of three again up amenities.

In a put up on X, Mr Singh mentioned a neighborhood fault led to the “momentary lack of electrical energy” on the hospital. “The facility backup programs at Rajindra hospital, Patiala are multi stage (3 hotlines) & functioning with out concern. The UPS and generator backup functioned seamlessly & the surgical procedure was carried out with out concern,”  he mentioned, including that the affected person was recovering with none concern.

“Sadly, a junior physician panicked and recorded a video. Medical employees should stay focussed on affected person care always,” he added.

(With inputs from Gurpreet Singh)