Thu Jul 24 03:15:23 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text, formatted for a general audience:
**Summary:**
King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam has suspended open-heart surgeries since January 2025 due to malfunctioning equipment, specifically the Heart-Lung Machine (HLM) and Temperature Monitoring Machine (TMM). This suspension is impacting patients, especially those from economically weaker sections, who rely on the hospital for affordable cardiac care. The hospital officials confirmed that other cardiac procedures are continuing. The issue has drawn public attention recently and the hospital is actively working to resolve the equipment issue by leasing the machines immediately. They are also arranging for the purchase of new equipment through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds and MPLADS funds, expecting to resume open-heart surgeries soon.
**News Article:**
**Visakhapatnam’s King George Hospital Suspends Open Heart Surgeries Due to Equipment Failure**
**Visakhapatnam, July 24, 2025** – Open heart surgeries at King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam have been suspended since January, leaving vulnerable patients in a critical situation, hospital officials confirmed today. The reason for the suspension is the failure of essential equipment, including the Heart-Lung Machine (HLM) and a Temperature Monitoring Machine (TMM), both of which are vital for performing these complex procedures.
“All other cardiac procedures are being performed without issues,” assured Visakhapatnam Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad, who also serves as the KGH Hospital Committee Chairman. However, the inability to perform open heart surgeries is a significant setback, particularly for low-income patients who depend on the hospital for affordable care.
The HLM is crucial as it temporarily takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during surgery, allowing surgeons to operate on the heart while bypassing these organs. Without it, open heart procedures are impossible.
The issue has only recently come to light due to patient complaints. This is not the first time KGH has faced such a challenge. A similar situation occurred in 2015 due to the lack of a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Hospital authorities are taking steps to rectify the problem. “The heart-lung machine stopped working some time ago. We issued orders two days ago to hire the machine on a rental basis,” stated Prasad. The hospital is also securing a new HLM through ICICI Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
KGH Superintendent Dr. I. Vani said the hospital has ordered HLM and TMM machines on a lease basis from a company in Hyderabad and are also working to procure the equipment through MPLADS and CSR funds at a cost of around ₹3 crore. “The equipment will be available at the KGH soon. Once the equipment reaches us, we will resume it soon. At least 15 to 20 open heart surgeries can be done in a month at KGH,” Dr. Vani said.
The hospital hopes to resume open heart surgeries as soon as the replacement equipment is in place, alleviating the hardship faced by patients in need of these life-saving procedures.
First Piper 