Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, Sept 4: The lone CT Scan machine of District Hospital Kishtwar is lying defunct from the last more than two months due to which the visiting patients are suffering badly, particularly those who cannot afford to go to private CT Scan centres.
According to official sources, around 100 patients visit District Hospital for the treatment of various diseases and many of them have to undergo CT Scan but as the CT Scan machine of the hospital is not in working condition for last more than two months, the patients are being referred to District Hospital Doda or GMC Doda.
They said that besides COVID threat, the district being accident prone and militancy affected, the need of this facility is must but irresponsible attitude of authorities concerned has added to the miseries of residents of this hilly district.
Sources said that those who can afford prefer to go to private CT Scan centers while the poor and downtrodden are bound to visit District Hospital Doda and GMC Doda, as these tests are costly for them.
According to the sources, a CT Scan study costs between Rs 900 to Rs 1500 in the Government Hospitals while the cost of the same is almost double in the private CT Scan centres. They said that while poor patients are suffering badly due to non-functioning of the machine the administration of District Hospital are sleeping over the issue.
“Not a single CT scan has been performed in the District Hospital from past two months. During emergencies, the patients are referred to Doda but many don’t have money or resources to travel to hospitals there or afford private care”, said attendant of a patient while terming the situation as “unfortunate”.
“The machines have been deliberately kept dysfunctional probably to help the private sector”, he alleged.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Ashok Sharma said the CT Scan machine of the hospital is not working due to non-availability of UPS.
“We have written to the higher authorities for sanctioning of the funds to start functioning of the CT Scan machine”, he said.
“In case of emergency, the patients are being referred to District Hospital Doda or GMC Doda for conduct of CT Scan”, he said while replying to a query.
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