Operation Theatre Equipment List: What Every OT Needs and Costs
Setting up an operation theatre? Here is the full equipment list, zone by zone. We add 2026 Indian prices and the room rules each OT must meet.
A general OT in India needs an OT table, OT light, anaesthesia machine, monitor, defibrillator, cautery unit, suction, pumps and piped gases. This main equipment costs about Rs 10 lakh to Rs 38 lakh per OT, based on 2026 Indian price guides. Instruments, sterilisation and building work are extra.
Core OT Equipment List with Prices
These are the main items for one general OT. Prices are 2026 ranges. They come from our buying guides, Bajaj Finserv and Medikabazaar.
| Equipment | What it does | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| OT table | Holds and positions the patient | Rs 70,000 to Rs 4.5 lakh (hydraulic to electric) |
| OT light (double dome) | Bright, shadow-free light on the wound | Rs 60,000 to Rs 1.65 lakh |
| Anaesthesia machine or workstation | Gives oxygen and anaesthetic gases, ventilates the patient | Rs 3 lakh to Rs 15 lakh |
| Patient monitor | Tracks heart rate, oxygen, blood pressure and breathing | Rs 40,000 to Rs 2.2 lakh |
| Defibrillator (manual, with monitor) | Restarts the heart in cardiac arrest | Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh |
| Electrosurgical (cautery) unit, about 400 W | Cuts tissue and stops bleeding | Rs 34,000 to Rs 98,000 |
| Suction machine | Clears blood and fluid; backup to piped suction | Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000 |
| Syringe or infusion pump (2) | Gives drugs and fluids at a set rate | Rs 12,000 to Rs 96,000 each |
| Crash cart | Keeps emergency drugs and airway kit in one place | Rs 10,000 to Rs 64,000 |
| Medical gas pipeline (per OT) | Oxygen, nitrous oxide, air and vacuum at the wall or pendant | Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh |
| Main equipment for one OT | About Rs 10 lakh to Rs 38 lakh |
Surgical instrument sets, sterilisation and building work are not in this total. A super-speciality OT with pendants and video can need Rs 40 lakh to Rs 80 lakh of equipment. See our modular OT setup cost guide.
Equipment by OT Zone
An OT is a set of rooms, not one room. The 2022 Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) split it into four zones: protective, clean, sterile and dirty. Here is what each area needs.
| Zone | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Pre-op and holding | Stretcher trolleys, patient monitor or pulse oximeter, oxygen and suction points |
| Scrub area | Surgeon’s scrub sink with elbow or knee taps (a pair per OT) |
| Operating room | OT table, OT light, anaesthesia machine, monitor, cautery unit, suction, pumps, instrument and Mayo trolleys, IV stand, kick bucket, X-ray viewer |
| Recovery | Recovery beds or trolleys, a monitor per bed, oxygen and suction, crash cart with defibrillator |
| Sterile supply (TSSU or CSSD) | Autoclave, instrument washer, packing table, sterile store racks |
IPHS also asks for a sterile supply room (TSSU) next to the OT. Clean tools then do not travel far.
Need a price for your hospital or clinic?Get a written quote, brochure or demo from the Pulse team.
Room Rules Every OT Must Meet
- Temperature: 21 ± 3 °C (IPHS 2022; NABH asks for 18 ± 2 °C for joint replacement).
- Humidity: 50 to 60% relative humidity (NABH allows 20 to 60%).
- Air changes: at least 20 an hour, four of them fresh air, through HEPA filters.
- Gases: piped oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air and suction, with a backup cylinder.
- Power: generator and UPS backup for the light, anaesthesia machine and monitors.
- Doors: a self-closing door with a viewing window, and a separate trolley change area.
Safety Checks Before Every Surgery
Good kit only helps if it is checked. Many Indian hospitals use the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. Before the patient is put to sleep, the team confirms that:
- the anaesthesia machine and medicine check is complete;
- the pulse oximeter is on the patient and working;
- any equipment problems are raised at the time-out and at sign-out.
Check the anaesthesia machine, defibrillator and suction every day, and log it. Keep a service contract for each big item.
How to Plan and Save
- Match the OT table to the work. Hydraulic suits general cases. Electric suits long cases. Pick a C-arm table for bone and urology work.
- For major cases, buy one good workstation, not two basic machines.
- Pick monitors with EtCO2. It measures carbon dioxide in each breath.
- Plan gas and power points before the building work starts.
- Ask for set-up, training and two years of service in each quote.
Pulse OT Equipment
Pulse can supply most of an OT. This includes hydraulic, electric and C-arm OT tables, LED OT lights, the anaesthesia workstation, patient monitors, syringe pumps, instrument trolleys, crash carts, autoclaves, the medical gas pipeline and complete modular OTs. Pulse does not supply defibrillators or electrosurgical units.
Operation Theatre Equipment List: Key Facts
- A general OT needs an OT table, OT light, anaesthesia machine, monitor, defibrillator, cautery unit, suction, pumps, trolleys and piped gases.
- The main equipment for one OT costs about Rs 10 lakh to Rs 38 lakh, based on 2026 Indian price guides.
- The anaesthesia machine (Rs 3 lakh to Rs 15 lakh) is usually the biggest single item.
- IPHS 2022 asks for 21 ± 3 °C, 50 to 60% humidity and at least 20 air changes an hour.
- The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist asks teams to confirm the anaesthesia machine check and a working pulse oximeter before every anaesthetic.
Operation Theatre Equipment List: FAQs
What equipment is needed in an operation theatre?
A general OT needs an OT table, OT light, anaesthesia machine, monitor and defibrillator. It also needs a cautery unit, suction, pumps, trolleys, a crash cart and piped gases. Add an autoclave and surgical instrument sets.
How much does operation theatre equipment cost in India?
The main equipment for one general OT costs about Rs 10 lakh to Rs 38 lakh, based on 2026 Indian price guides. The anaesthesia machine is usually the biggest item. Super-speciality OTs with pendants and premium workstations can need Rs 40 lakh to Rs 80 lakh of equipment.
What are the four zones of an operation theatre?
IPHS 2022 splits the OT into four zones. The protective zone is for entry and changing. The clean zone holds pre-op and recovery. The sterile zone is the operating room and scrub area. The dirty zone handles used linen and waste.
What temperature and air changes does an OT need?
Keep the OT at 21 ± 3 °C and 50 to 60% humidity (IPHS 2022). The air should change at least 20 times an hour, with four of those changes fresh air. NABH also asks for HEPA-filtered air.
Which is the most important safety equipment in an OT?
The pulse oximeter and a checked anaesthesia machine come first. The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist asks the team to confirm both before every anaesthetic. A working defibrillator, suction and an oxygen backup cylinder are also essential.
Does Pulse supply operation theatre equipment?
Yes. Pulse supplies OT tables, LED OT lights, an anaesthesia workstation, patient monitors and pumps. It also supplies trolleys, crash carts, autoclaves, gas pipelines and full modular OTs. Message +91 90711 01108 for a quote.
Sources
- Indian Public Health Standards 2022: Community Health Centre (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare): OT zones, temperature, humidity, air changes, TSSU
- Revised Guidelines for Air Conditioning in Operation Theatres (NABH, 2018): temperature, humidity and air changes
- WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (CAHO training copy): sign-in checks for anaesthesia machine and pulse oximeter
- Manual defibrillator machine price (Bajaj Finserv, August 2026): Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3.5 lakh with monitor
- Cautery machine listings (Medikabazaar, accessed November 2026): 400 W units about Rs 34,000 to Rs 98,000
- Suction machine listings (Medikabazaar, accessed November 2026): about Rs 9,000 to Rs 18,000
- Pulse buying guides (2026): OT table, OT light, anaesthesia machine, patient monitor, pump, crash cart, gas pipeline prices, each with its own sources
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