The machines at Government Medical College (GMC) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) are non-functional due to failure of the RO (Reverse Osmosis) machine costing about 3 lakh, which is an integral part of the dialysis machine. Sources at IGGMC told TOI that despite having a maintenance contract, the manufacturing company didn't provide service. Since last six months, the college has been tendering for purchasing the machine but has not got a suitable bidder. At GMCH, it seems the problem is both of the RO plant going defunct as well as absence of a technician who can run the machine.

Whatever the reason, the two colleges having two dialysis machines each are not doing dialysis for one and half to two years. Recently the medicine department of GMCH, which had posted its resident doctors at SSH, has withdrawn them. Hence SSH, which has five dialysis machines, is able to manage just 10 patients a day. "We need five more machines considering the patient load. We have written to the directorate of medical education and research (DMER) for posting residents to at least continue the existing process," said the SSH Officer on Special Duty Dr Manish Shirigiriwar.

The machine operators and nursing staff have to work in shifts and in night when senior teachers are not there, resident doctors are needed to supervise the process. After the withdrawal of residents, the hospital had to stop taking patients in emergency in the night. DMER director Dr Pravin Shingare told TOI he would inquire with the GMC dean on why he had withdrawn the residents. "There must be some reason for him to do so. I will ask him before taking any decision of appointing new residents," he said.

The GMC medicine department has taken back the house officer who would work in night. "It is a life-saving procedure. What should the patient do? He is not aware of internal problems of the hospital. What reply should the hospital give the patients coming in emergency," asked a senior teacher.

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