Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 23: The CT scan machines installed in the Emergency Unit of Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu and its associated hospitals, including SMGS Hospital, Chest Diseases Hospital and Super Speciality Hospital (SSH), have become obsolete and outdated. Frequent breakdowns of these machines have significantly impacted patient care services, causing inconvenience and delays in critical medical diagnostics.
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Official sources revealed that these CT scan machines were procured and installed in the year 2012. The manufacturer had provided a five-year warranty, followed by an additional five-year period under an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) with TBS India Limited. However, the Company had informed hospital authorities long ago that these machines were now beyond economic repair.
For the past three years, the administration of the concerned hospitals has been managing repairs through local vendors, incurring heavy costs. Despite these efforts, the outdated machines frequently break down, disrupting essential diagnostic services and delaying patient treatment.
Sources further stated that the CT scan machine at SSH Jammu has been non-functional for over three months. As a result, the entire workload has shifted to the Bone & Joint Hospital, Jammu. However, this arrangement is proving inadequate due to long waiting times and logistical difficulties in transporting patients between hospitals. The lack of immediate diagnostic facilities, especially for critically ill patients, has raised serious concerns about the efficiency of emergency medical services in the region.
Medical Superintendents of the affected hospitals, along with the Head of the Department of Radiology at GMC Jammu, Dr Vipan Magotra, have already projected the urgent requirement for new CT scan machines to Principal GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta. In turn, Dr Gupta has conveyed the urgency of the matter to the Managing Director (MD) of J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), Kapil Sharma. However, due to a lack of funds, the procurement process has been delayed.
When contacted, MD JKMSCL Kapil Sharma confirmed the financial constraints hindering the replacement process. He stated that a rate contract for the procurement of 128 Slice CT Scan machines, manufactured by M/s Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Japan, has already been finalized. Each machine is estimated to cost approximately Rs 7.82 crore.
Sharma said considering the urgency of the situation, JKMSCL plans to place an order for two CT scan machines next month. However, delivery of the new machines is expected only by May or June 2025.
The delay in procuring new CT scan machines has sparked concern among patients and medical professionals, who are urging the Government to expedite the process and ensure timely availability of essential diagnostic equipment to safeguard patient care.
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