Whenever a new and ultra modern machinery or device meant for the hospitals is ordered by the Medical Department, there is great trumpeting of the same in the media and large claims are made that we are far advanced in providing latest medical treatment to the patients. It is true that high level researches in medical science are undertaken most seriously in the western world. As a result many new are invented that throw up a variety of new equipment. If our Health Department purchases these newly invented machines we are happy that patient community will benefit from these. But unfortunately our experience is that there is no regular system of providing maintenance facilities and service if the machines in question go dysfunctional. Before these expensive machines are purchased, it is important for the Government to make sure that these remain functional. In the Government Medical College Jammu out of three laparoscopic machines two have become dysfunctional. Several months have gone by and still these remain out of use, Doctors can’t help postponing surgeries by six to eight months for want of machines. The phenomenon is not true only in the case of laparoscopy. In many other cases of critical machinery, the situation is the same. It is not owing to the negligence of doctors or medical staff. They too are helpless. It is the bureaucratic segment that sits on files and allows disruption in providing normal medical assistance to the patients. The Health Minister should pay surprise visits to hospitals and obtain first hand knowledge of the ground situation. The condition in district hospitals is far worse. We need some radical change in entire medical assistance system.
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