Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology in Patna. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Poor patients in need of pacemakers can suffer a lot, as Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology is yet to pay the suppliers of these devices.

The Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology (IGIC) has failed to make payments — that run into several crores — to suppliers providing pacemakers to the hospital for the past one year. One of the suppliers, US-based firm Medtronic, has already stopped delivering pacemakers, while the Indian supplier, Pacetronix, would discontinue supply if payment is not made soon.

According to sources, if Pacetronix stops supplying pacemakers, poor patients would suffer, as IGIC is the only hospital in the state where below poverty line (BPL) cardholders can get a pacemaker implant free of cost.

In private hospitals, the pacemaker implant operation costs something between Rs 72,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh.

At IGIC, the cost of pacemakers is between Rs 50,000 and Rs 70,000. Those getting pacemakers at this subsidised rate make the payment to the hospital, which pays the suppliers.

Pacemakers are devices that stimulate the heart with electronic impulses to maintain a normal heart rate. Usually, the heart beats about 50 to 70 times per minute and the heart rate may increase by two to three times during exercise and also due to stress. If the heart beats too slowly, the brain and body do not get enough blood flow. Then, the person may suffer from a variety of symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, lack of energy and shortness of breath. An extremely slow heartbeat could be fatal.

A doctor at the IGIC, on the condition of anonymity, said: “We use both foreign and Indian pacemakers at the hospital. Since last month, Medtronic has stopped supplying pacemakers. The company is yet to receive a payment of Rs 3 crore from the hospital. Pacetronix is also threatening to stop supply because the company is yet to be paid Rs 1 crore. If this happens, poor patients in the need of pacemaker implant, would be left in the lurch because at present the IGIC is the only government hospital in the state where BPL cardholders undergo free pacemaker implant because it is free for them.”

“We have not stopped supplying pacemakers to IGIC because we know that poor patients are served there. But we are doing business with the hospital. At present, we are supplying the pacemakers even though we are yet to receive payment of Rs 1 crore, which has remained due for the past year. But at some point we won’t be able to supply pacemaker to IGIC anymore,” said Ashutosh Kumar, the regional sales manager of Pacetronix.

The Telegraph tried to contact IGIC director Harendra Kumar several times. First, he did not receive the call and when he did answer, saing he was busy attending to a patient. However, several more attempts were made to contact him, but to no avail.

IGIC deputy director A.K. Jha said: “The hospital authorities have written to the health department many times to release the funds allotted for the purpose, but we are yet to receive it. Work in government offices take some time because there are many formalities involved.”