New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Ramakant Panda, the private doctor who conducted a cardiac operation on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in January, said Thursday the second bypass surgery “on beating heart is more complex” on which “very few surgeons have consistent good results”.
Panda was reacting to the Central Information Commission (CIC) asking All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to explain the reasons why a private doctor conducted cardiac surgery on the prime minister.

“Contrary to opinion, redo (second) bypass surgery is a far more complex operation than first bypass. Redo bypass on beating heart is still more complex and there are very few surgeons in the world who have consistent good results,” Panda said in an statement.

An RTI applicant, Jagdish Chander Jetli, had sought details about the rules and reasons of AIIMS under which Panda and his team from the Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai was asked to carry out the surgery at the premier medical institute.

Manmohan Singh underwent a coronary bypass surgery Jan 24 to remove five arterial blockages. He was operated upon at AIIMS by an 11-member panel of doctors led by Panda. The prime minister was discharged from hospital Feb 1.

Jetli had contended before the CIC that calling a private doctor to conduct the operation at the premier institute, “staffed by the best doctors in the country and (equipped) with the best of medical facilities, has eroded the reputation of AIIMS”.

Panda said that by getting operated in AIIMS, the prime minister has sent a message that our public hospitals are very good and has acknowledged both private expertise and public facilities in full measure.

Replying to Jetli’s query, AIIMS had said the decision to invite Panda was taken “jointly by the PMO and family members of the prime minister”.