RAWALPINDI:Despite a complete revamp of the Holy Family Hospital (HFH) during 2023-24 at a cost of Rs3 billion, the provincial government has yet to provide essential new equipment for the hospital`s operation theatres.

This delay has affected surgical procedures and post-operative care, hampering the hospital`s ability to serve patients effectively.

A senior official of HFH told Dawn that there were 25 operation theatres in the hospital but the operation tables (beds) were old enough and required replacement as it were procured in 1999.

He said a Rs500 million project had been sent to the Divisional Development Working Party led by the commissioner Rawalpindi, but it was yet to be approved.

Holy Family is the main hospital of Rawalpindi division and has a total area of 672,000 square feet.

The number of beds in the hospital is 1100. On average, 2,161 patients visit the Outpatient Department (OPD), 915 seek care in the emergency department and 228 are admitted to wards.

The official said there was a dire need to procure new equipment for the operation theatres as it affected the process of operations.

He said modern operation beds were required for the theaters so patients` blood pressure, oxygen level and heart-beat could be monitored.

At present, there are four operation theatres in the emergency department, five in general surgery, five for allied surgery in ENT, eye, ortho and neuro, Eve for gynecology, three burn plastic surgery and three in paeds.

A senior doctor of HFH said there was also a dire need of anesthesia machines, operation table (electrohydraulic), operation theatre lights, electrosurgical units, intensive care unit beds, cardiac monitor, defibrillators and laproscopic tower for surgery.

He said that there were 22 anesthesia machines but 14 more were required. Similarly, the hospitalhas 22 operation tables (electrohydraulic) and requires 14 more; 22 operation theatre lights but needs 14 more, 25 electrosurgical units are available and there is a for additional 12. ICU beds are not available and there is a requirement for 50. Moreover, 155 cardiac monitors available and 25 more are required while 45 defibrillators are available and there is a need for 15 more. Though one laproscopic tower for surgery is available but the hospital requires two more.

`There is one laproscopic system in surgical operation theaters which is very old and is not fulfilling the requirement.

When contacted, HFH Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Butt said a project was sent to the Punjab government to replace the old equipment and it would be approved soon.