Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 24: Amid COVID 19, a non-functional digital X-ray machine is affecting the patient care at District Hospital Bandipora in North Kashmir with administration holding negligence of the supplier company responsible for the undue delay.
The machine developed a technical snag 25 days ago, leaving the hospital dependent on an archaic X-ray machine that produces poor results. In absence of the X-ray, the patients who visit the facility for medical care are facing inconvenience as they have to get their tests done at private clinics at exorbitant rates.
The doctors at the hospital said majority of the patients who visit the hospital are from poor families and could not afford private clinics. “Patients have to get the test done at private clinics that are unaffordable for them. Majority of them leave the hospital without tests,” a doctor said.
He said the hospital has to rely on a traditional X-ray machine that is time-consuming and delivers inconclusive results. “In pneumonia and bone fractures cases we need a high-quality digital X-ray, but that cannot be achieved with the old machines,” he said.
The patients lamented that the delay in the restoration of the machine indicates the seriousness of the administration towards the healthcare of the people. “While the entire world is providing the best infrastructure in view of COVID 19, the careless administration has failed to rectify the snag of the machine,” Basher Ahmed a local said.
The Medical Superintendent Bandipora, Bashir Ahmad, told Excelsior that they have raised the issue with the medical company and are confident that the issue will be resolved soon. “Few days back the company sent a team of engineers. They could not restore the machine as the damaged part has to be ordered from Bangalore. The part is yet to arrive,” he said, adding that the hospital is facing problems in the absence of facility.
He said he has taken up the issue with the department. “I met the Director today. He assured that they will take the issue up with the company,” he said.
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