Hyderabad: Minimally invasive surgeries, which have gained significant ground in surgical care in recent years, have yet to be introduced in government hospitals across Telangana, leaving many patients in need without access to this vital form of treatment.Life-threatening conditions, such as heart episodes requiring removal of blocks to stop internal bleeding, treatment for brain strokes involving block removal to prevent internal bleeding, tumor removal, biopsies, and ablation (which uses heat to destroy cancerous cells), as well as the use of minimally invasive techniques to deliver chemotherapy directly to tumour cells, are not available in any of the government hospitals in the state.Also Read: Minimally invasive lymph node removal may guide treatment for women with locally advanced cervical cancer: StudyThe top government teaching hospitals, including Osmania General Hospital (OGH), Gandhi Hospital, Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal, and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), which are leaders in the state’s healthcare infrastructure, are notably not offering surgical techniques that have now become universally accepted for their safety and efficiency.Minimally invasive surgeries (MIS), which offer faster recovery times and are especially important for pediatric patients, are routine in private hospitals in Hyderabad. However, despite the availability of highly skilled and experienced surgeons in government hospitals, these advanced surgical techniques remain largely absent in the public healthcare sector.
Niloufer Hospital, the state’s premier tertiary facility for mother and child health, also lacks a dedicated interventional radiologist. Traditional surgical methods often result in excessive blood loss in children, while minimally invasive surgery can help save these critical patients.
A senior paediatrician from Niloufer Hospital stated that sick infants and children requiring surgical intervention often cannot recover well from traditional surgeries, which are typically performed on adults. These procedures result in significant blood loss, and recovery is often uncertain for infants undergoing such surgeries. In such cases, minimally invasive surgeries are considered the way forward.Also Read: Minimally Invasive Procedures Effective in Reducing Pain and Improving Function in Osteoarthritis Patients: StudyAs per the recent media report by Telangana Today, a senior surgeon at Gandhi Hospital said, “There are no separate minimally invasive surgical departments or departments of Interventional Radiology at government hospitals in State. Doctors who perform such surgeries often learn from their seniors or peers through workshops and CME programs.”