ACs defunct for 6 months in Hamidia Hospital burn unit:Surgeries conducted with coolers, patients with 90% burns face infection risk

Even as temperatures in Bhopal have crossed 43 degrees Celsius, the burn unit at Hamidia Hospital — Madhya Pradesh’s largest government-run healthcare facility — has been functioning without air-conditioning in its operation theatre (OT), intensive care unit (ICU) and wards for the past six months. The situation has become so severe that surgeries are being carried out with air coolers installed inside the OT, while critically injured patients with 70 to 90 per cent burns are being treated in the ICU with only cooler air for relief. Medical experts say the absence of a controlled cooling and filtration system in a burn unit can significantly increase the risk of life-threatening infections. According to guidelines issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), NABH standards, hospital infrastructure norms and infection-control protocols, burn OTs and ICUs must be equipped with central air-conditioning, HEPA-filtered air systems, controlled temperatures between 22°C and 25°C, regulated humidity levels and positive-pressure ventilation. However, patients at Hamidia’s burn ward are being treated in conditions that fall short of these requirements. Complaints ignored, say doctors Doctors in the department said repeated written complaints have been submitted to the maintenance wing and hospital administration regarding the non-functional cooling system. Despite this, the problem remains unresolved. Officials attribute the delay to pending budget approvals and tender-related procedures. Estimate prepared, repair work yet to begin “The issue regarding the AC and cooling system was flagged nearly six months ago, and an estimate has already been prepared. The technical team has been instructed, and the tendering and maintenance process is underway. The air-conditioning system has remained completely non-functional during this period,” said Dr Anand Gautam, In-charge Head of the Burn Unit at Gandhi Medical College. Why air-conditioning is critical in burn units Doctors explain that burn victims are particularly vulnerable to infections because the skin — the body’s primary protective barrier — is severely damaged. Bacteria, fungi and viruses can easily enter through exposed tissue. As a result, burn ICUs and operation theatres are categorised as high-sterility zones. Experts warn that airborne pathogens reaching open wounds can trigger sepsis, a potentially fatal condition that can lead to multi-organ failure. “In burn care, air-conditioning is not a comfort measure; it is a critical clinical requirement,” said a senior specialist. Ward conditions raise concerns During a visit to the burn ward, this reporter found conditions extremely uncomfortable. Within minutes, the heat inside the ward became difficult to endure. At present, four patients are admitted to the ICU and six to the general ward. A relative of a patient undergoing treatment said his brother had suffered burns over nearly 90 per cent of his body and was struggling to cope with the heat. “The doctors told us he needed a cooler environment. We somehow arranged a cooler, but it is nowhere close to what is required for a patient in such a condition,” he said. ‘Not a luxury, but lifesaving’ Former National Health Mission director Dr Pankaj Shukla said air-conditioning in burn units is essential for infection control and patient survival. “Maintaining a controlled temperature and sterile airflow is a basic requirement in burn care. It is not a luxury. For patients with extensive burns, it can be lifesaving,” he said.