Ranchi's RIMS Faces Ventilator Shortage Amid Repair Delays, Impacting Critical Care

Ranchi: The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) is grappling with a shortage of ventilators. The crisis is compounded by delays in repairing 50 out of its 200 such devices.Several departments, including neurosurgery, ICUs for critical care, paediatrics, neonatology, medicine, oncology, cardiology and surgery, have reported poor condition of their ventilators.A work order for repairing the devices was issued, but the progress is slow. This has left several wards with inadequate life-support facilities. Five ventilators were damaged due to mishandling, Rims sources said.Rims public relations officer Rajiv Ranjan said, “The ventilators have been sent for repair. Corrective steps are being taken to avoid such lapses in the future and ensure proper maintenance of life-support equipment.”The hospital has initiated the process to procure 75 ventilators, officials said.A senior doctor further said, “Every day, we face situations where critical patients require ventilator support, but the limited availability puts us in a difficult position.”

Mithu Kumar, an attendant of a patient, said, “We came to Rims for ICU bed. But we were told that though an ICU bed was available, no ventilator was functional. The hospital asked us to wait though my patient’s condition is serious. If a hospital like Rims cannot admit patients in such situations, where are families supposed to go for treatment?”