SSKM Hospital to set national record with 300 free gallbladder surgeries in just 6 days

SSKM Hospital in Kolkata has undertaken a record-breaking initiative to conduct 300 free gallbladder surgeries within six days as part of a government-backed pilot project. The program, which began on February 10 and will continue until February 16, aims to reduce the backlog of over 800 pending gallbladder surgeries. By Friday, February 14, the hospital had already completed 200 surgeries, with the remaining 100 planned over the next two days.

According to Project Coordinator Dr. Seraj Ahmed, SSKM Hospital had a significant backlog of gallbladder surgeries, which prompted the launch of this initiative. He stated, "This pilot project has been launched specifically to clear the backlog of long-pending cold surgeries." The project is led by SSKM Director Dr. Mrinmoy Bandyopadhyay, Surgery Department Head Dr. Abhimanyu Basu, and Dr. Ahmed, with a dedicated team of specialists working round the clock.

To meet the target, the hospital formed seven surgical teams, each consisting of a surgeon, a senior resident doctor, three junior doctors, an anesthetist, and a nurse. Additionally, six dedicated surgical beds were set up in the operation theater to facilitate the high volume of procedures. Officials confirmed that the hospital was previously conducting 25–30 surgeries per day, but this initiative significantly increased the capacity.

The project follows a structured approach with a daily target of 50 surgeries, planned through a rotational roster to ensure smooth execution. Post-surgery care arrangements have also been made, with medical teams assigned to monitor patients. Officials state that all surgeries were performed using laparoscopic procedures, which reduce recovery time and minimize hospital stays.

With two days remaining, the hospital is on track to achieve the 300-surgery milestone as planned. Medical officials say the initiative could help streamline surgical processes and clear pending cases faster in the future. This marks the largest gallbladder surgery drive ever conducted in a government hospital within such a short timeframe.