Experts say almost all oxygenators are imported from the US and European countries, and hospitals are vigorously lobbying with it government Intervening to ensure stable supply. Experts cite reasons ranging from short supplies of raw materials to the ongoing Ukraine conflict as possible reasons for compromised supplies.
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Dr Anil Jain, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Epic Hospital said that procedures like coronary bypass surgery are done ‘open heart’. “We perform around 10-odd surgeries daily that require a machine. As of today, we only have 15-20 oxygenators in stock. We are scouting with all potential suppliers across India to ensure So that we can have live time-saving procedures,” he said. “Other disposables such as intra-aortic balloon pumps and catheters are also in short supply.”
Across Gujarat, around 2,000 open-heart surgeries are performed per month, said Dr Tushar Shah, a cardiothoracic surgeon associated with several city-based hospitals, including SAL Hospital and Rajasthan Hospital. “If the supply of disposables including oxygenators is not restored to meet the demand, it will adversely affect the entire sector. We are postponing some surgeries if the patient is not in dire need of the procedure,” he said. government to intervene.
Nirmal Chadha, a city-based supplier of medical equipment, said the inventory of equipment for cardiac surgery such as oxygenators and intra-aortic balloon pumps and catheters is at an all-time low. He said, “We have already requested many doctors and hospitals to consult us about its availability before planning the surgery. To give you an example, if we order 100 oxygenators, we will get 20. are.”
Dhanwant Shah, another supplier operating across Gujarat, said factors such as the prolonged lockdown in China – a major supplier of raw materials for disposable items – as well as the ongoing Ukraine conflict are responsible for the short supply.
“We are procuring it from all over India and even from abroad and are left with no option. We are not sure when the regular supply will resume,” he said.
Manoj Bhimani, managing trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital, said that due to shortage of oxygenators, open-heart surgeries of children with congenital heart issues have gone up from 126 to 56 in the last one month. “Disposals for heart-lung machines and procedures are life-saving, and for the last 20-25 days our staff member’s full-time job is just coordinating with suppliers across India,” he said.