Asthma patients visiting Delhi’s  Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis (RBIPMT) are struggling to catch their breath—quite literally—as the hospital faces a complete shortage of inhalers. 

What seems to be a routine supply lapse has turned into a serious concern for patients who depend on these life-saving devices for daily relief.

One patient, who did not wish to be named, told Drug Today Medical Times that not a single inhaler has been available at the hospital for over three months. 

“We come here hoping for treatment, but there’s nothing. It’s frustrating and scary when you can’t get the medicine you need to breathe properly,” the patient said.

When reached for comment, Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director of Rajan Babu TB Hospital, said he was unaware of the shortage. 

“Let me check with the hospital staff,” he said while speaking to Drug Today Medical Times.

The unavailability of inhalers at a government hospital known for treating respiratory ailments has sparked concern among healthcare observers. 

Experts warn that such lapses can put patients at serious risk, especially those with chronic asthma who rely on inhalers for immediate relief during breathing distress.

“This isn’t just about inconvenience—it’s about safety,” said a senior pulmonologist from another Delhi hospital. 

“Without inhalers, patients could end up in emergency rooms with preventable asthma attacks.”

The incident once again raises questions about supply chain management in Delhi’s public health system, where even essential medicines sometimes fail to reach patients in time. For now, asthma sufferers at Rajan Babu TB Hospital are left waiting—and hoping—for the air they desperately need.