Thiruvananthapuram: A severe shortage of critical medical devices has forced the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) to suspend all non-emergency neuro and peripheral interventional procedures, triggering hardship for patients and political outcry.

The institute announced that the decision stems from attempts to streamline procurement of interventional devices, but doctors blame delays in acquiring essential tools. While cardiology and paediatric heart procedures will continue, five urgent surgeries and two neuro cases have been indefinitely postponed, affecting many referred patients from Tamil Nadu and other states.

The Department of Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology confirmed a complete halt in neuro and peripheral procedures, citing unresolved procurement issues. Suppliers reportedly refused to honour 2023 contracts without revised pricing, compounding the crisis.

A key contributor to the delay is the mandatory use of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal for all purchases—a Union government directive intended to boost transparency but criticised by the medical community for slowing procurement.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi held an emergency meeting at SCTIMST on Monday, assuring that surgeries may resume in two days and full resolution of device shortages is expected within two weeks. He pledged to escalate the issue to the Union Science Minister and the PMO.

In the meantime, Health Minister Veena George has directed the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital to step in for emergency neuro cases.

The crisis also saw protests from Youth Congress and DYFI, who demonstrated outside the institute director’s office.