Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Aug 25: Patients at District Hospital Bandipora have been left to ‘suffer’ as since the past 40 days, the only Ultrasound machine at the hospital is lying defunct. While private medical centers are charging more, the impact is directly at poor patients.
“Thousands of patients visit the hospital on a daily basis. Many are advised to undergo ultrasound, but the machine has some faults from almost 40 days. People are forced to visit private diagnostic centers which affects poor patients, they have to pay hefty amounts which in these times is impossible”, Irfan Khan, a local resident told news agency— Kashmir News Observer (KNO)
Ishfaq Ahamd, 28, who has Kidney ailment, had visited the hospital to get an USG done but he was directed to get the test done at a nearby private diagnostic lab or visit Srinagar.
“This is apathy by the authorities, it was shocking for me to know that it has been forty days since the USG machine has stopped working and they are directing everyone to visit the nearby diagnostic centres, I was told the same”, said Ishfaq.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an official at the hospital confirmed that the machines are seven-years-old and the defunct machines need to be replaced. “We have raised the request several times to the authorities but nothing has been done so far,” the official said.
“Ultrasound tests are the need for the majority of pregnant women. We have shared the issue with a seniors team who recently visited the hospital but all in vain,” he added.
While talking to KNO Medical Superintendent DH Bandipora, Dr Bashir Ahmad said that the machine had developed some problems and the experts have been called to fix it. “The issue will be addressed at the earliest,” he said—(KNO)
