MADURAI: Despite being aware that using syringes more than once is dangerous, Government Hospital, Thirupuvanam, is being compelled to use one syringe for more than three patients due to shortage of funds, according to official sources. Government Hospital, Thirupuvanam, was upgraged from a Primary Health Centre three months ago. However, the funds for syringes have not yet been allotted. The needles are being changed for every patient but the use of the syringe continues for multiple patients.
Around 700 patients are being treated every morning, 100 in the afternoon and around 20 during night at the hospital. With the onset of monsoon and the rise in the number of patients being infected, around 800 to 900 injections are being used every day. The hospital, however, receives only around 400 syringes and around 10,000 needles every week. “If there is any fever or body pain, the patient asks for an injection and hesitates to take tablets. We can’t force the people as they complain that we are denying them treatment,” said the sources.
“By re-using syringes, chances of infection are high. Though we are aware that we are putting the patient’s health at risk, we are left with no other option,” claim the sources.
“The funds are allotted annually and released every quarter depending on the patients’ strength and requirements of the hospital,” said Dr K Senthil, state president, government doctors association. “In this scenario, if the hospital uses one syringe for more than one patient, it is not an ideal practice,” he added. Dr Rohini Sridhar, chairperson, CII Madurai zone and COO and Director- Medical Services, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, said that the mouth of the syringe may also carry infection. The syringe was named disposable for it to be used once one. Earlier, the glass syringes used to be sterilised, but the disposable syringes cannot be sterilised.
Higher officials at Sivaganga district health office denied any charge that the hospital in Thirupuvanam, was not being supplied with sufficient syringes and needles. Government and other technical bodies advise the use of one syringe and one needle per patient and on paper, the government allots adequate funds for every hospital.
