Established with the objective of providing artificial limbs and assistive devices to persons with disabilities, the Regional Artificial Limb Centre at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, is making patients suffer a lot. Some people fear that the centre may become defunct due to prolonged neglect and a severe shortage of staff. The centre, popularly known as the ‘Limb Centre’, is reportedly the only such facility in Central India. However, recruitment to various posts has remained stalled for nearly two decades. At one point, around 20 employees were working at the centre to manufacture and provide artificial limbs and other supportive devices to persons with disabilities.

 

Today, only a handful of employees remain, with just one technician shouldering most of the technical workload. The centre used to manufacture a range of assistive devices, including callipers, spinal braces, surgical shoes, moulded shoes, and belts for the waist and neck. A large number of beneficiaries visiting GMCH belong to economically weaker sections and are dependent on such facilities for affordable support. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that even applications submitted by BPL-category persons with disabilities for essential aids reportedly face delays, as there is no designated officer at the centre to process and sign the documents. The centre earlier had a bio-engineer, prosthetic and orthotic technicians, leather workers, brace makers, shoe makers and three padding workers. However, virtually all these posts are now vacant.

 

The absence of specialised manpower has severely affected the centre’s ability to provide callipers, surgical and moulded shoes, spinal and neck supports and other assistive devices to hundreds of persons with disabilities visiting the hospital. Although officials indicate that three to four employees are currently associated with the centre, the technical work is largely dependent on a single technician. The prolonged failure to fill sanctioned technical and support posts has transformed what was once a vital facility for persons with disabilities into a severely understaffed unit. Beneficiaries, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds, are now facing difficulties in accessing essential artificial limbs and orthotic aids. With no regular recruitment for nearly 20 years, the Regional Artificial Limb Centre at GMCH is struggling for survival, raising serious questions over the administration’s commitment to maintaining a specialised facility meant to serve some of the most vulnerable patients.