Dear Editor,

I am not a doctor by qualification, but a Doctorate in Sociology from the Mumbai University and an allied service Officer of I.A.S. My views are based absolutely on my personal experiance of Day Care Surgery. Hence, my opinion are not of a Medical practitioner, but needs to be read as a feedback from a ‘User’ of Day Surgery facilities. Which I would like to share with you and your readers.

I agree with the experts view that the concept of Day Care Surgery is not new to us, the ancient doctors’ have this method since time immemorial, which have been represented as a modern day innovation, and now it has come to stay.

I had a problem which needed to be operated immediately. At the same time, I had a foreign commitment, which needed me to be in Geneva the next day. I talked with my family physician, Dr. Shanti Lal Jain, who asked me to contact your Day Care Centre. Accordingly, I contacted you and got my problem soleved within the same day. This was possible only because of the magical advantages of Day Surgery, which otherwise, would require hospitalisation and missing out on my commitment.

To me, Day Care Surgery means, to get the treatment and discharge on the same day, which also means that the patient is operated as an ‘Out Patient’, i.e., he or she is not admitted over-night and hence: ‘Ambulatory’. The patient walks in and walks out on the same day. Most of the surgeries and other procedures in this Day Care Surgery Technology are done under local anaesthesia and mild sedation, therefore, its effect wears out within a few hours and the patients are able to function normally.

What I have experianced in this type of treatment is its excellent advantages. The patient needs no hospitalisation. Now-a-days, hospitalisation have many associated problems like hassle of the admission and discharge procedures, getting rooms in the hospitals, etc. The patient can recover in the familier and comfortable surroundings of their home and with their family, without inconveniencing anyone. The day care surgery treatment has much less complications of general or spinal anaesthesia. Finally, it cuts down the cost of the whole treatment significantly.

People are not aware of this type of treatment and its associated advantages. Even I was not aware of this method of treatment till I went thorugh the experiance myself. What is necessary is to arrange wide publicity of this Day Care Surgery. Mumbai is not only the Greater Mumbai area alone. It also covers Thane and New Mumbai areas. I stay in Thane, but never came accross any advertisement or any information in Thane or New Mumbai. Now-a-days people are very busy and hence have less time available with them. This Day Care Surgery which is done within the same day would very much suit their requirement. Also, cost is another factor which is of prime consideration today for majority of the patients. This Day Care Surgery treatment is again very economical and hence would be suitable for the majority of the people. What would be necessary is to ensure and give confidence to the people, that Day Care Surgery treatment is very simple, dependable and also, economical. The treatment is done by expert doctors and post-operation medical attention is given top most importance and hence the team of doctors would guide and advise patient in dealing with any situation of discomfort.

Considering the present day position of medical treatment, we need more and more of the such centres in Mumbai, as well as, all over India.

Dr. G. C. Banik, I.I.S.

For corrospondence:
Chief General Manager (PR)
Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited.
Videsh Sanchar Bhavan, Mahatama Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai-400 001