In a major step to strengthen emergency healthcare services in Tripura, a dedicated round-the-clock emergency operation theatre (OT) has been made operational at GB Pant Hospital. The new facility is expected to significantly reduce delays in critical surgeries and improve survival chances for seriously ill and injured patients.
GB Pant Hospital is the state’s top referral centre, catering to patients from across Tripura as well as neighbouring areas. With a growing number of emergency cases being referred from district and sub-divisional hospitals, doctors have long felt the need for a separate OT that can function exclusively for emergencies at all hours. Hospital officials said the new 24×7 emergency OT will now ensure that life-saving surgeries can begin immediately, without waiting for a regular operation theatre to become free.
At present, the hospital operates 19 major and 10 minor operation theatres and performs around 30 to 40 major surgeries every day. However, emergency patients often arrive in critical condition, where even a short delay can prove dangerous. The newly commissioned emergency OT has been set up inside the operating theatre complex of the New Teaching Hospital, Unit One and Unit Two.
Doctors said the initiative has been made possible with support from the state government and close coordination with the health department. Anaesthesiologist Dr Bhaskar Majumder said the facility would help emergency surgeries go ahead smoothly without disturbing planned operations. The Director of Health Services has approved the deployment of three nursing officers and additional staff to keep the OT functional round the clock.
Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Kanak Chowdhury said the new emergency OT would also help reduce the backlog of urgent surgical cases, especially in the surgery department. Senior doctors, resident medical officers, nurses and hospital staff were present during the inauguration. Hospital authorities added that another operation theatre will soon be made functional at the Trauma Care Centre under the Health and Family Welfare Department.
