Srinagar, Feb 8: In a concerning development, the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has revealed a significant shortfall of more than 25 ventilators,A ventilator, also known as a breathing machine or respirator, is a medical device that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs when a patient is physically unable to breathe or is breathing insufficiently.As per the information shared by SKIMS to a Right to Information (RTI) application by social activist MM Shuja, the medical institute revealed that the shortage of ventilators is reported in different departments of SKIMS. The ventilator shortage at SKIMS is particularly alarming in several key departments responsible for handling critically ill patients.
In the Pediatrics and Neonatology department which specialises in the care of critically ill infants and children, there is a shortage of 10 ventilators. Currently, the department has 10 functional ventilators, 3 that are non-functional, and a total requirement of 20 ventilators—16 for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and 4 for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
The Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery department is also in dire need, with a deficiency of 12 ventilators. In the reply, the department stated that there is a deficiency of 12 ventilators in total, with 8 needed for adult patients and 4 for pediatric patients. At present, it has only 5 functional ventilators, with 5 others being non-functional.
The Neuro ICU is relatively better off, yet still faces challenges, as it currently uses 12 ventilators, of which 10 are functional and 2 are non-functional. General medicine has 6 ventilators. The Critical Care Unit is also in a precarious situation, as it has a total of 20 ventilators in place, of which 7 are non-functional.
The shortage of ventilators at SKIMS raises severe concerns about the hospital’s capability to cope during surges of respiratory illnesses and other critical health emergencies. Ventilators are vital for providing life-saving support to patients suffering from severe respiratory failure and other serious conditions. The current numbers indicate that SKIMS is ill-equipped to handle a sudden influx of patients requiring ventilatory support, especially in light of ongoing health crises.
“At SKIMS Soura, the urgent need for more ventilators cannot be overstated. While we can manage the temporary shortage of manpower, the lack of functional ventilators jeopardizes patient care. When every ventilator is occupied, we cannot admit new patients in critical need—this is a life-and-death situation. We need adequate funding to secure the necessary equipment so we can provide the care that every patient deserves,” said a medico at SKIMS wishing not to be named.
