ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Still reeling from the strike by health care professionals, the surgical units of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) are going through another rough patch as life-saving medical equipment in operating theatres is missing or has malfunctioned. No immediate reprieve is available as the Finance Division has placed restrictions on procurement of new equipment, Dawn has learnt reliably.

The surgeon added that a number of crucial operating theatre equipment – ventilator, diathermy machines (a medical instrument for local heating of bodily tissues for medical purposes), anaesthetic machines and infusion pumps – was not available and this has led to inordinate delays in simple procedures.

According to an official in the administration wing of Pims, between 60 and 70 operations are managed daily at the hospital. "However, these days the number of procedures performed is over a 100," he added.

He told Dawn that while the doctors were initially clearing out the backlog which had climbed up to 700 because of the health care professionals' strike, with the machinery malfunctioning, there had been delays leading to a worsening of the backlog.

"The solution is purchasing new equipment but Pims has been barred by the Finance Division to not procure any asset (equipment) because of austerity measures," said the official, and shared a letter from the Finance Division issued on Aug 17, 2011, which stated: "There will be a ban on all types of purchase of physical assets and vehicles."

The administration official explained that as per rules, machinery items are assets for any hospital management.

He said: "The finance ministry's letter has created more trouble for the public hospital's working within the Islamabad Capital Territory since the letter was issued for federal government institutions and ministries as an austerity initiative of the federal government."

Asked that how many procedures are being affected on daily basis, he said: "We are receiving number of complaints from different head of departments but we have no alternative."

Meanwhile, Amjad Hussain, a liver patient at Pims, claimed that his endoscopy was continuously being delayed and that a local technician had informed him that there was an issue with the endoscopy equipment.

"I have been waiting for last three weeks and have still not been given a date," he complained.

When Dawn contacted Executive Director of Pims Prof Mehmood Jamal over the delays in surgical procedure because of government bar from procurement of medical equipment, he replied: "We are aware of the issue and in this regard we have sent a letter to the secretary of the Capital Administration and Development Division for granting us a special waiver for purchase of life saving medical equipment."

He added: "I am hopeful that the matter will be addressed and there will be no concerns in future of any department."