Ropar district hospitals, both in private and government sectors, lack electrical defibrillator facilities that could potentially save lives in cases of sudden cardiac arrest.

Every year, hundreds of lives are lost in the district due to the unavailability of emergency treatment through electrical defibrillators or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The only options for emergency treatment are at the district headquarters or in Mohali district.

Dr. Balwinder Kaur, the Civil Surgeon of Ropar, revealed that there are only four electrical defibrillators in the district, with three located in the Ropar Civil Hospital and one in Anandpur Sahib.

Sources indicate that defibrillators are also scarce in private hospitals, with sub-divisions like Nangal and Chamkaur Sahib lacking this life-saving equipment in both private and government sectors.

Electrical defibrillators are crucial devices that deliver electric shocks to the heart to correct potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythms. Without CPR or treatment through defibrillators, the chances of survival for sudden cardiac arrest patients are as low as 1 to 2%, according to Dr. RS Parmar, a senior surgeon in Ropar.

Dr. Bhanu Parmar, another prominent surgeon in the district, highlighted that India witnesses around 5 to 6 lakh deaths annually due to sudden cardiac arrest, as reported by Lancet. Immediate intervention is vital, as more than 90% of sudden cardiac arrest cases result in sudden cardiac death. Bystanders equipped with CPR skills can buy crucial time until professional help arrives, significantly improving the chances of survival.

Dr. Parmar emphasized the need for increased awareness, policies, and training to empower bystanders to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies. By following the example of Western countries where bystander CPR is common and public access to automated external defibrillators (AED) is widespread, India can potentially raise its survival rates to 60-70% in sudden cardiac arrest cases.