SHILLONG: The Shillong Civil Hospital was struck by a critical setback on Sunday as its dialysis unit broke down, leaving over 40 patients in a limbo.
With the vital facility not working, patients find themselves grappling with challenges deepened by financial constraints, barring them from accessing alternative treatment options in private hospitals.
Civil hospital authorities have not turned a blind eye to the gravity of the situation, promptly alerting the government to the crisis at hand.
Dr. K Marbaniang, the senior medical specialist overseeing the dialysis unit, told a news portal that the authorities have been apprised about the situation through a letter dated May 2.
He further added that procurement of a new Reverse Osmosis (RO) system of higher capacity, alongside the installation of new dialysis machines to alleviate the pressing predicament, have been asked for.
The root cause of the current plight can be traced back to persistent issues plaguing the existing RO system, procured in 2017.
Despite routine maintenance efforts, the system’s recurrent breakdowns have disrupted essential dialysis procedures, worsening the challenges faced by patients and healthcare staff alike.
Logistical hurdles, including inadequate water supply and machine deficiencies, have further delayed efforts to rectify the situation.
In a bid to address the technical challenges, civil hospital authorities have enlisted the support of the Meghalayan Medical Drugs and Essential Services Limited (MMDSL) for remedial action.
However, delays in procurement and servicing have only worsened the strain on patients and staff, underscoring the urgent need for prompt resolution.
Efforts to mitigate the crisis have seen hospital authorities summoning an engineer from Kolkata to address the technical challenges.
However, logistical impediments, including transportation issues, have hampered the engineer’s prompt arrival, delaying the resolution of the crisis.
