Hyderabad: Instruments in the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences’ laboratory like analysers, solvent stills, fume hoods etc. are malfunctioning due to the extreme temperatures.
As the laboratory in the old building of NIMS is not air-conditioned, the severe heat is damaging the instruments. A senior official said, “No tests can be conducted in the afternoon as the equipment shuts down. The severe heat is affecting their functioning and with no air-conditioning in the laboratory, most of the work is stalled for two to three hours.”
The heat is even breaking the glassware and thermometers. While there are two refrigerators, these are meant for stocking samples and very sensitive equipment. Most of the apparatus is kept out, but the increasing heat is affecting them too, said a senior technician.
Meanwhile there are no coolers in the out-patient department on the ground floor of the old building. There are more than 1,000 patients in the OPD everyday and the heat is making it difficult for doctors to operate.
A senior doctor said, “There are 15 doctors who suffered migraines in the last one week and have been complaining about their working conditions. At least coolers can be provided by the hospital during peak summer.” The patients and their attendants are suffering too.
A senior doctor said, “Funds is a major concern of the hospital, but with such a harsh summer, some arrangement should have been made. The centrally air-conditioned super speciality block has become a burden now and they are blocking some sections to cut down on the costs. Had the funds been properly utilised it would have helped in strengthening other blocks that get the maximum patients and where most of the manpower is working.”
