Govind Sharma
JAMMU, June 25: The CT scan machines at Chest Diseases (CD) Hospital Jammu as well as Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital have been out of order for last 15-20 days, forcing patients in need to proceed to the Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) Jammu or other associated hospitals.
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Official sources told Excelsior that the CT scan service at SMGS Hospital has been disrupted for the last about 20 days, as the lone machine in this largest mother and child care hospital of Jammu is out of order and its warranty period has expired.
“An average of 20-30 patients usually avail the CT scan facility on a day basis in this hospital, but since this service has been stopped, patients are either being referred to the GMCH Jammu or other associated hospitals. This has caused considerable inconvenience to patients and their families, particularly the kids as they have to wander from one hospital to another in this hot weather,” sources said.
They claimed that as patients in need are getting long dates for CT scan facility in other hospitals, they are forced to move to private diagnostic centres and spend their hard earned money on the service which they should be provided in Government hospitals. Notably, the CT scan facility is costlier in private diagnostic centres than what the people have to pay in a Government Hospital.
“Similar is the case with CD Hospital Jammu where the CT scan machine is out of order for last about 10-12 days and the patients having sever breathing problems and other ailments of lungs are made to suffer,” sources revealed. They said in the absence of a functional CT scan machine, doctors there are forced to refer the patients in need to the nearby Bone & Joint Hospital.
When contacted, Principal and Dean of GMC & Associated Hospital, Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta said they are aware of the matter and resultant suffering to the patients and their attendants. He said as soon as the machines went out of order we contacted the engineers of the Company, from which these machines were procured, but according to them these machines have become irreparable.
“We are waiting for the new machines for which the order has already been placed with the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited and the procurement process is in final stages,” he added. Meanwhile, he said, they are trying to get both the CT scan machines repaired from some local vendor to ensure that patients do not suffer more.
He said currently, the patients who need a CT scan at both these hospitals are being referred to Bone & Joint Hospital, Jammu.
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