THERE is lot of talk going on about transformation of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, into a state-of-the-art institution.

I would like to share my personal experience. I was admitted to the institute as a private patient some time back for a procedure (angioplasty). I was taken to the Cath. lab the following morning and asked to move on to the Cath. table that had a lot of blood on the sheet.

I refused but the assistant doctor insisted that he could not help it, nor could he change the sheet. Finally, he covered it with a doctor’s gown. I further pointed out that the pillow was dirty, but I had to give in. A stent was implanted.

It took its toll. I had to face serious repercussions and within a week I developed fever and sepsis that lasted for three months. With high doses of antibiotic, I survived hospital-acquired infection.

What are the standards to define the state of the art??

I believe the Sindh government invested billions into the NICVD, but what about hygiene and sterile conditions? Even the most modern equipment is useless without sterile environment.

Sameena Zaheer

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2018