Dire shortage of anesthetic drugs and other emergency medicines as well as surgical suture, stent, valve, among others, has forced the hospital reduce the surgeries, officials at the hospital said.Cardiac patients across the country reach SGNHC as it is only the national referral center and is renowned for quality care at affordable price.
"We are forced to reduce surgeries as we are running out of the essential drugs," Dr Jyotindra Sharma, executive director of the SGNHC, said.
"We know that cardiac patients who visit the hospital from across the country will be hit hard by our decision but we have no choice," added Dr Sharma.
According to Dr Sharma, the hospital has informed contractors about the dwindling stock of medicines but they have not been able to supply new medicines due to the prolonged economic blockade.
The hospital administration has also notified about the medicine crisis to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), which, too, has shown helplessness.
"We don't know how long this situation will last. So we have decided to reduce the rate of surgery," added Dr Sharma
Suture is a crucial instrument needed to stitch the wound. Stent is a small mesh tube that is used to treat narrow or weak arteries. Likewise, valve controls the flow of blood.
The SGNHC, which carried out six open heart surgeries a day, has decided to conduct only four from now onward. Similarly, the hospital has also decided to reduce up to 40 percent in routine angiogram, angioplasty, and others.
Meanwhile, Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center (MCVTC), which is under the Tribhuvan University (TU) Institute of Medicine (IoM), said that it would also be compelled to reduce the number of surgeries if the existing situation continues for the next two weeks.
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