Srinagar, August 30: The lone CT Simulator machine at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has turned defunct leaving the cancer patients to suffer.
Patients at SKIMS said that the machine is defunct for over a month now and they have been compelled to visit SMHS Hospital Karan Nagar for the purpose.
Ali Mohd, an attendant from Srinagar, whose father is suffering from lung cancer said the machine is defunct and they have been referred to SMHS hospital.
“We got our turn at SMHS for the test after a month. This is a costly procedure and many patients can’t afford to go outside the valley,” he said.
There are only two CT Simulator machines at SKIMS and SMHS hospital. Now, the SMHS machine is bearing a huge burden of patients as almost all patients are referred there.
“The machine is defunct and patients are suffering a lot. SKIMS authorities can’t do anything as it would take time to repair the machine or get a new one,” he said.
Sumit, another attendant from Uri whose father is also suffering from cancer said they have been waiting for the past ten days at SMHS but they are yet to get their turn for the test.
“At SMHS, we were told that they will call us back after 12 days but we are yet to receive the call. Patients are suffering. My father is in severe pain. We are waiting for the doctor to recommend the medicines. It is very difficult for patients,” he said.
As per doctors the delay in CT Simulator procedure the patients turn to the next stages and it will create huge issues for the patients. “There is no such machine in the private sector in Kashmir as the machine is costly,” he added.
However, Medical Superintendent, SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan said they have taken up the matter with the concerned company and they have told them that the machine can’t be repaired.
“We are trying other options to restore it back. Now we are doing it on a PET scan machine once a week,” he said. Before the machine became defunct the SKIMS would receive 20 to 30 cancer patients daily from different parts of Kashmir.
“There would be inconvenience. We are trying to repair it outside the parent company but there are less chances. Replacement is the only option and it will take some four months. We are trying to procure it and the process is going,” she said.
A CT Simulator is a real-time, CT-linked, 3D treatment planning system. It consists of a CT Scanner, and a lot more. It also includes a multi-image display, a treatment planning device that has real-time visual optimization and a laser beam projector.
