Handwara, Jan 31: Patients in north Kashmir’s Handwara district are facing severe difficulties as the only CT scan machine at the Associated Hospital GMC Handwara has been defunct for over two weeks.
With no alternative available, patients—especially those from economically weaker sections—are being forced to turn to expensive private clinics for scans.
A patient told Rising Kashmir that he has been visiting the hospital regularly for a CT scan but is repeatedly informed that the machine is out of order. “I cannot afford a private clinic. Every day, they tell me to wait for a few more days. When I approach the hospital administration, they say the matter has been taken up with the concerned department, but no progress has been made,” he said.
Local residents expressed frustration over the delay, stating that the hospital’s outdated and frequently malfunctioning equipment is causing immense suffering. “We had hoped that after the establishment of GMC, things would improve, but instead, the situation has worsened. There is a space crunch, and essential medical machinery is often non-functional,” said Mohammad Sadiq, another patient.
An official from the hospital admitted that despite their efforts, the machine remains non-operational. “Earlier, when we had limited connectivity to the city, repairs were handled without much delay. Recently, an engineer from Medciti, the company with which the government has a contract, attempted to fix the machine, but it could not be restored,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Divisional Nodal Officer Kashmir, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, assured Rising Kashmir that he would take up the matter with the concerned agency responsible for the machine’s repairs. “The issue will be addressed soon,” he stated.
The affected patients and locals have urged authorities to expedite the repair work to prevent further suffering. They have also demanded better medical infrastructure, proper staffing, and the availability of essential diagnostic services at the hospital.
Medical Superintendent of Associated Hospital Handwara, Dr. Aijaz Bhat, said, “The matter has been taken up with Medciti, the company with a central contract for all government hospitals. They are responsible for the repairs, and the delay is occurring from their side. We cannot go outside of this contract.”
When asked why the machine can’t be repaired at the local level, he said, “We can’t do that because the government has given a contract to Medciti Company. They tag every piece of machinery in hospitals, and whenever there is a technical issue, they are responsible for repairing it.”
