Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 24: The Electroencephalo Graph (EEG) and Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) machines, which play a vital role in the investigation of epilepsy and treatment of the mentally ill patients, respectively, have been gathering dust in Psychiatric Hospital Jammu for last about five-six years reasons best known to concerned authorities.
ECT is typically used to treat severe depression and is occasionally used for other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. During ECT, an electric current is briefly applied through the scalp to the brain while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia, inducing a seizure.
ECT is one of the fastest and most effective ways to relieve symptoms in severely depressed or suicidal patients or patients who suffer from mania or other mental illnesses. A course of ECT is usually followed by psychotherapy and medicine under a psychiatrist’s care.
On the other hand EEG machine continues to be of immense investigative value in the management of neuro-pathological disorders such as epilepsy but both the machines are gathering dust for about last six years although both are in good working conditions.
According to the sources, the EEG machine was functional till 2008-09 but after the promotion and transfer of the concerned technician to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu in the same year, the machine was never put to use by other technician, who is drawing salary from Psychiatrist hospital but extending services in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Super Specialty Hospital and SMGS Hospital except the Psychiatrist Hospital, where he is deputed.
The sources said that since 2008-09 the machine passed through many untrained hands. “First of all the charge of the machine was given to a pharmacist, thereafter to a staff nurse and then a doctor but as all of them were not trained properly to operate the machine and the concerned technician was serving in other hospitals, the machine remained unused in a locked room”, they said adding resultantly the patients could not reap the benefit of the machine.
Similarly, the ECT machine, which was being used to treat severe depression and other mental illnesses in the patients, has been lying unused since 2008-09 due to non-availability of anesthetist. Sources said in order to give ECT to a patient one needs a psychiatrist and an anesthetist but the hospital lacks an anesthetist due to which the doctors are totally dependent on drugs to treat even patients suffering from resistant mania or severe life-threatening depression though it is a lengthy process.
When contacted, Medical Superintendent, Psychiatrist Hospital, Dr Osmani said, “The EEG machine of the hospital is a manual machine, which is very old and outdated and thus does not provide much help in investigative purpose of epilepsy. However, I wrote many times to the Principal, GMCH, to send back our EEG technician. Moreover, we also sent him a recommendation to provide a digital EEG machine but no favourable action was taken”.
On ECT machine, she said it is a good method to treat patients suffering from severe depression but as there is a stigma against ECT use in the society as well as patients, it is not commonly used today and preference is given to other treatments. “However, in selected cases where patients are suffering with serious life-threatening depression, ECT therapy becomes must but due to non-availability of anesthetist, we cannot opt for that”, she added.
When contacted Principal, GMCH, Dr Ghansham Dev Gupta, said he is looking into the matter and soon all issues will be solved.