Emergency Defibrillator Shortage in Ropar District Hospitals Raises Alarms

In Ropar, Punjab, the acute shortage of defibrillators in both public and private hospitals poses a grave risk to patients experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Currently, the district is equipped with only four defibrillators—three located at the Ropar Civil Hospital and one at Anandpur Sahib—leaving vast areas without immediate access to life-saving technology. This deficiency has dire implications, as hundreds of lives could be at stake each year due to the absence of timely emergency care.

Dr. Balwinder Kaur, the Civil Surgeon of Ropar, confirmed that the district lacks adequate defibrillator facilities, stating, "In both government and private sectors, we have a total of just four defibrillators available. This is insufficient to meet the needs of our population, especially in sub-divisions like Nangal and Chamkaur Sahib, where no defibrillators are present."

The importance of defibrillators cannot be overstated. According to Dr. RS Parmar, a senior surgeon at Ropar, the survival rate for individuals suffering from sudden cardiac arrest drops to a mere 1 to 2 percent without immediate intervention, such as CPR or defibrillation. He emphasized, "Time is of the essence; without prompt action, the chances of survival diminish rapidly."

The Lancet, a respected medical journal, highlights that approximately 500,000 to 600,000 individuals die annually in India from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Dr. Bhanu Parmar, another leading surgeon in Ropar, reiterated this alarming statistic, indicating that SCA is a leading cause of death, often occurring without warning and necessitating immediate medical attention. "The window for effective intervention is critically short—often just a few minutes. If bystanders are trained in CPR, they can buy crucial time until professional help arrives."

Despite the critical need for immediate response capabilities, many potential responders are hindered by a lack of awareness and fear of legal repercussions, which discourages them from acting in emergencies. Dr. Bhanu Parmar noted, "In India, the immediate response to cardiac emergencies is hampered by societal fears and insufficient training. In contrast, countries like the United States and Canada show significantly higher survival rates—up to 60-70%—because the public is well-trained in CPR and there is widespread availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs)."

The absence of these life-saving devices in Ropar's healthcare facilities highlights a pressing need for policy changes and improved healthcare infrastructure. Stakeholders, including local government officials and healthcare providers, must prioritize the acquisition of more defibrillators and promote public awareness initiatives that encourage CPR training.

The implications of this shortage extend beyond immediate health risks; they reflect systemic healthcare deficiencies that require urgent address. As the healthcare system grapples with these challenges, observers call for enhanced investment in emergency healthcare resources and a cultural shift towards proactive emergency response strategies. Without such changes, the lives of many remain at risk, underscoring the need for an immediate and concerted effort to rectify these shortcomings in Ropar's healthcare provision.