LUCKNOW, July 13 -- Around 20 surgeries are being delayed daily due to the unavailability of laparoscopy machines in three major district hospitals of the city -- Balrampur Hospital, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (Civil) Hospital, and Lok Bandhu Raj Narain Hospital (LBRNH), according to health authorities.

Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure used for both diagnosis and treatment of abdominal and pelvic conditions, is currently unavailable at Balrampur and Civil hospitals. Doctors at these facilities are relying on open surgeries, which are more invasive and require longer recovery times, a senior health official said.

The footfall of patients at LBRNH, Civil and Balrampur hospitals is around 8,000 per day. Of these, around...