Will inquire into the matter and won’t allow patients suffer: CMO Bla
Reyaz Rashid
Sheeri: An Ultra-Sonography (USG) machine is lying defunct at Primary Health Centre (PHC) Sheeri from last five weeks putting the life of many patients including pregnant women at grave risk.
Patients visiting the hospital said that the only USG machine at the hospital has been lying dysfunctional for weeks together now besides the inoperative USG machine which was installed in 2006 has hassled patients who are forced to travel 7kilomrers to reach Baramulla and be at the mercy of unaffordable private clinics.
With no other (USG) machine available, the patients’ especially pregnant women are facing a lot of hardships, the locals said the machine developed some fault but the hospital authorities have not been able to repair it since, leaving them dependent on private diagnostic centers.
“A majority of the patients visiting the hospital for treatment come from poor financial backgrounds who cannot afford to pay hefty charges to private diagnostic centers. As the USG machine has been lying defunct, they have been running from pillar to post to get their diagnosis done,” said a parent lady Haseena Bano.
“The patients especially critical patients are facing lots of problems due to lack of the facility inside the hospital,” said Ghulam Nabi who was attending an emergency patient.
Locals blamed hospital authorities of carelessness and held them responsible for the damage caused to the USG machine.
“The health officials say that they have called the experts to repair it but nobody has turned so far to repair it. For a mere USG we have to travel seven kilometers to reach Baramulla,” he added.
When contacted Medical Officer in charge BMO Health block Sheeri, she didn’t respond to repeated calls from this correspondent.
Chief Medical Officer Baramulla Dr. Syed Mir Ji Andrabi said that government has given the contract of reapearing hospital machinery and other equipments to Medicity Company in the Jammu and Kashmir but unfortunately Medicity till date has failed to repair the USG machine despite complaints.
“I will look into the matter and won’t allow patient would suffer for weeks,” he added.