Bandipora, Feb 09: The X-ray and USG machines provided to the New Type Public Health Centre (NTPHC) Ashtangoo in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district have been lying defunct for years.
The locals questioned the UT administration’s claims of exemplary healthcare to people in rural medical centres. “The defunct X-ray machine here has deflated all those hollow claims by the government,” Misra Begum, an attendant at the health centre, told Rising Kashmir.
The attendants said the machine has been lying defunct for a long period of time, causing immense hardships to those seeking medical attention. They said the authorities seem to be least bothered about repairing or replacing it.
“The authorities are pushing us to hardships,” Mohammad Ramzan, a local, told Rising Kashmir. “The X-Ray machine is important for patients who meet with accidents or experience any bone-related issue, but the hospital management is not concerned about fixing the machine. The patients are left with no option but to carry out the scan at private diagnostic centres,” he added.
Ramzan further said that the government hospitals and health centres charge Rs 150 for an ultrasound scan which in private diagnostic facilities costs 400 to 500 rupees.
The locals said they are being “advised” to visit the district hospital Bandipora for an ultrasound scan which is often overcrowded due to being the only government-run hospital. “One has to wait in long queues for hours for a test there,” said a woman.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Bandipora told Rising Kashmir that measures are being taken to fix the machines. “We have asked the relevant specialists and all the machines will be repaired by the next week,” he said.
