Work capacity and surgical output for cataract in the national capital region of Delhi and neighbouring districts of north India.

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain time taken for cataract surgery by ophthalmologists in the National Capital Region of Delhi and neighbouring districts, to determine what work output is feasible with the available ophthalmologists. METHODS: The time-motion study was conducted during January to June 2006 in the National Capital Region of Delhi and neighbouring districts in North India. Data was collected by observing all activities from entry of a patient into the operating theatre to exit. A total of 156 cataract surgeries performed by 45 ophthalmologists in 38 hospitals were observed. A stop watch was used to record activity time, rounded off to the nearest 10 seconds. Case duration, surgical and clinical times were calculated. RESULTS: Ninety percent ophthalmologists completed surgery in 41.3 minutes. The 10th and 90th percentile for case duration time was 15.5 and 78.4 minutes respectively. Median surgical time was lowest for ophthalmologists working in the NGO sector (10 minutes), compared to the government (23.5 minutes), and private sector (17.3 minutes). Cataract surgical output can be increased in the country if operation theatre time is utilized optimally.