? These ice-making machines were installed at various games venues and CWG Village for physiotherapeutic use since ice is applied in the immediate management of muscular injuries. Six months after the Games, only three such machines have been given to two Government hospitals while the rest are still waiting to be put to use.

? Two machines have been procured by the LNJP Hospital—one for the blood unit, where it is not much of a use, and the other for the haemophilia unit. The doctors had demanded that these ice makers be installed in the Casualty and Emergency units. “Actually these machines are not of much use for the hospitals. It is generally used in sports injury and trauma management. Though we had asked for it in the Emergency and Casualty, but they are not getting it,” said a senior doctor at LNJP hospital on conditions of anonymity. Baba Sahib Ambedkar and Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospitals are also likely to get these ice makers soon. “The DHS had approached us, and we had made our requisition. One such machine has come,” said the Medical Superintendent of Ambedkar Hospital Dr VM Aggarwal.

? During the Commonwealth Games, the DHS had opened tenders for these machines in August 2010, just a month before the Games. With no company bidding for these machines, the DHS had to procure them from the open market. “We needed 68 such machines. Two machines were to be put in Games Village with a capacity of 460 kg. There was only one machine of 460 kg available in the market,” informed the then DHS director Dr S Bhattacharjee.

? These ice-making machines were procured from different vendors. In most of the centres where these machines were to be installed did not have a proper inlet, outlet or even a power connection to instal them. “The DHS was installing these machines till October 2, just a day before the opening ceremony of the Games,” added Dr Bhattacharjee.

? Ironically, most of the hospitals in Delhi Government do not have a proper physiotherapy unit. The basic equipment required for physiotherapy is missing. “Ice makers are luxuries and not necessities. What will we do with ice makers? We first need the basic machines and adequate doctors to run the physiotherapy unit. Ice makers are a far off dream for hospitals like us,” said a doctor from Baba Sahib Ambedkar Hospital.

? The DHS has approached the Government hospitals to put in their demands so that these machines can be given to them. “After these ice makers are given to the Government hospitals, the DHS will then look for private buyers,” informed a senior doctor at the DHS.

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