Latest news with #BJMC&SGH
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Sassoon docs perform first robotic surgery, free of cost
1 2 3 Pune: A 35-year-old woman, who had gallstones, has become the first patient to undergo a robot-assisted surgery at the city's BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (BJMC & SGH). The successful procedure, performed free of cost on Wednesday, made the hospital the first govt medical college in western Maharashtra and the third in the state to have a dedicated robotic surgery facility for the masses, after Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital and Nagpur's Government Medical College. The woman who underwent the surgery on Wednesday, for what's known as cholelithiasis (gallstones in the gallbladder), is expected to be discharged on Sunday, her doctors said. Dr Lata Bhoir, head of general surgery department, said: "The patient had abdominal pain for 5-6 months and was diagnosed with gallstones, medically termed as cholelithiasis. We performed a cholecystectomy, or the removal of gallbladder. She's doing fine." A keyhole incision was made rather than a long continuous incision, which helps minimise blood loss and expedites post-surgery recovery, Dr Bhoir added. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Sassoon's robotic unit took months to start. The robot was purchased last November by the medical education department, but could only be used this week - eight months later - due to various reasons, including renovations in the operating theatre and crucial training for surgeons. Sassoon hospital's surgeons and nurses, rated to operate the robot, were trained at Nagpur Government Medical college. A high-fidelity simulator was used to develop their skills. Dr Eknath Pawar, dean of BJMC & SGH, hailed Wednesday's surgery as a big step towards affordable care. "Robotic surgery may cost Rs3–5 lakh at private hospitals. But our hospital now offers this service free of cost to underprivileged patients," he said, adding that the robot can help surgeons improve reach. Dr Pawar said: "While a surgeon has only two arms and limited wrist movement, three to five arms of the robot can operate simultaneously and much more efficiently under the control of the surgeon. This can be helpful for organs that are difficult to access by open or laparoscopic surgery, which includes procedures on the prostate, adrenal gland kidney and oesophagus. SGH will soon start using the robot for thoracic, cardiac and gynaecological surgeries as well. " Dr Aashish Chavan, associate professor, of the general surgery department said: "Robotic surgery is an advanced technique where a significant part of the body cavity surgery is done by a robotic arm, controlled by a surgeon sitting at the computer console away from the patient in the operation theatre. It has many advantages, including access to difficult areas, better vision, reduced blood loss and faster recovery. "
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
5 years on, Sassoon hospital awaits approval for additional beds at 11-storey building
Pune: Five years since admission to patients began in the 11-storey building at BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (BJMC & SGH), approval for 504 additional beds is awaiting official approval from the state's medical education and drugs department (MEDD). The building houses the paediatric, pulmonary, orthopaedic and radiology departments. It has affected recruitment of staff to handle these additional patients and funds needed to buy medicines and consumables, officials at the BJMC & SGH said. They added that once the file is approved by MEDD, it will be sent to the state finance department for final approval. The building was planned in 2009 after the swine flu epidemic but took 11 years to construct. When the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the building was thrown open on an urgent basis to admit serious patients. Dr Eknath Pawar, dean at BJMC & SGH, said, "As of now we are working at 66% of staff strength at the hospital and medical college. For the hospital's old buildings, we have an approval for 1,296 beds and for that we have an approved staff strength of 3,091." As per the information obtained from the hospital, of the 2,359 approved posts for class 1-4 employees at the old buildings, only 1,565 are filled and 794 are vacant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Of the 732 approved posts for BJ Medical College, 424 are filled and 308 are vacant. Dr Pawar said, "We had in 2022 sent a proposal seeking approval for 504 beds at the 11-storey building and also the staff required for those beds. We are yet to get a response on it. About the vacancies in the approved posts, we have already issued a tender to fill in the class four posts and in the next two months, 350 workers will be recruited. For class 1 and 2 posts, recruitment process is under way via the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. " The acute shortage of staff gravely affects patient services. Maya Jagtap, who has her relative admitted at the 11-storey building's orthopedic department ward, said, "Often there are no nurses or class 4 workers available to take the patient from the ward to the radiology department for scans. We have to be near the building all the time so that we can help our kin." Hasan Mushrif, minister of medical education, said, "I will look into it and if the approval is pending at our level, I will get it done in one week. I will immediately follow up on the proposal with the secretary of MEDD." Dheeraj Kumar, secretary, MEDD, could not be contacted for his comment despite several attempts. Rajiv Nivatkar, commissioner, MEDD, said, "I am out of town now; I will get back when I have information." City-based health activist and an alumnus of BJ Medical College, Dr Sanjay Dabhade, said that first it took 11 years for the 11-storey building to be constructed and then it was opened only when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and now govt is delaying approving the beds. "The hospital is always struggling to manage the existing patient load but with additional patients coming in, it will soon reach a breaking point. Why should it take five years to approve the beds which are already in use? This hospital is not only the hope for serious patients who come from different districts of Maharashtra but also for many homeless and poor people. Without enough staff, patient services are hampered gravely and there would be constant conflict between patients and healthcare workers. State govt must immediately approve these beds and the staff required," he said.
