2 of 3 CT scan machines non-functional at Lok Nayak Hospital over ‘pending dues’

Of the 3 CT scan machines astatine Lok Nayak Hospital, presently lone the 1 astatine the Sushruta Trauma Centre, situated much than 7 km away, is functional. The different 2 astatine the main infirmary are some non-functional. Apart from the 1 astatine the exigency department, the instrumentality successful the main section was condemned, oregon removed from use, astir a twelvemonth ago.

This led to a “massive workload” connected the instrumentality astatine the exigency section arsenic it had been moving continuously passim the day, said a missive from radiodiagnosis section caput Dr Gaurav Shankar Pradhan to aesculapian manager Dr Suresh Kumar. The CT scan instrumentality has not been moving since October 21.

“The institution has successful an email dated 21/10/24 expressed its inability to repair/replace the aforesaid till the anterior outgo pending with CPA for much than 2 years is cleared. Several reminders person been sent, the past was sent connected 08/10/24 to your office,” the missive read, urging the manager to expedite the merchandise of the payment. He besides requested that a caller CT scan instrumentality beryllium procured connected “an urgent basis” to regenerate the condemned equipment.

Further, helium requested Dr Kumar to person a connection with his counterpart astatine GB Pant Hospital regarding patients being referred to the adjacent infirmary for scan requirements. In notation to the condemned machine, helium wrote, “…there is simply a afloat functional CT instrumentality successful the radiotherapy department. Till the clip the contented of Emergency CT is sorted, with your permission, the instrumentality successful radiotherapy tin beryllium utilized for diligent care”.

The dearth of functional instrumentality astatine Lok Nayak Hospital has emerged amid an ongoing lawsuit proceeding successful the Delhi High Court during which a court-monitored committee precocious made a submission connected the load connected Delhi authorities hospitals. The diligent backlog of tests oregon diagnoses person been moving into months, the committee claimed.

Patients are forced to hold for arsenic agelong arsenic 3-4 months to acquisition tests astatine the OPD (outpatient department) of Lok Nayak Hospital and 8-9 months for tests astatine its wards, an affidavit dated October 11 filed earlier the tribunal by AIIMS Assistant Professor Dr Nishant Sharma, connected behalf of the AIIMS director, says.

To acquisition an MRI astatine the hospital, a diligent has to hold for astir 36-40 months astatine the OPD and 20-30 days astatine a ward. For a CT scan, the hold is for 7-8 months successful the OPD and 10-12 days successful the IPD (inpatient department).

Following the court’s directions connected October 4, a connection for purchasing 20 CT scan, 12 MRI, and 52 ultrasonography machines was enactment up for support astatine a gathering chaired by AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas.