Inefficient heath department in J&K

GMC CT scan defunct for two weeks, as rats tore the wires

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Aug 02: It may surprise you, but CT scan machine in premier hospital of Jammu and Kashmir, Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu was made defunct by rats, who cut the wires of the machine at several places.

The machine is not in working condition for last over two weeks, creating problems for hundreds of patients, including accident victims. Sources said that recently there was clash between doctors and attendants of a road accident victim, whose scan was not conducted due to the defunct machine.

A senior doctor said that despite repeated reminders to the hospital administration, not effort has been made to repair the machine, which could help save lives of several people.

There are two CT Scan machines installed in the hospital, in which one is in the emergency block whereas the other is in Radiology Department. The machine at emergency block is not working.

 Sources further said that the machine in Radiology Department was being used for the cancer patients only while other patients have been tested on machine in emergency block.

On daily average, around 20 to 30 patients need CT scan who are mostly admitted in emergency ward with head injuries as most of the medical help cannot be provided in such cases with the report of scan. Some brain scan cases are pending for months, mostly patients from rural and poor background.

These patients are suffering due to non functional machine in the hospital, but this was not the first time when patients have to pay for the fault of the hospital but many time earlier patients have to face problem due to one reason or the others.

“In other three hospitals included Super Speciality Hospital, Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital, (SMGS) Hospital and CD Hospital there is one CT Scan machine each and some patients are asked to CD hospital which has the CT facility” sources added.

When contacted, Principal GMC, Dr Shashi Gupta said that rats cut the cable of CT Scan machine due to which it went out of order.

“The machine will be made operational in next few days and steps are being taken to avoid the situation in future so that patients don’t have to suffer”, Dr. Gupta said.