Srinagar, May 06: The lone CT scan machine at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura is bearing huge load of patients leaving critically ill patients to suffer besides causing them inconvenience.
Patients visiting or admitted at SKIMS from different areas of Kashmir often face problems due to the persistent technical issues. These issues as per patients significantly impact patient care, particularly for individuals battling life-threatening illnesses like cancer
Shakeel Ahmad, an attendant from Ganderbal said last week his father was admitted at the hospital as he was suffering from life threatening ailments however they had to wait for long to get the patient’s CT scan done.
“Later, our father died at the institute. The CT scan machine often faces technical issues and patients, who are scheduled for the test, often get cancelled or delayed,” he said.
Shakeel said that CT scan in such a big hospital should run 24/7 and it should be a top priority of administration to manage it properly so that patients do not face any issues.
He said patients, particularly those facing financial constraints, endure hardships as they are unable to seek treatment at private clinics. “Numerous patients have been compelled to undergo tests at private clinics, which is financially unfeasible for many,” he added.
Nazir Ahmad, who attended another patient, also voiced similar concerns and said there should be additional CT scan machines that can alleviate the burden on the lone machine.
“The hospital needs to revise its strategies and provide the best possible treatment to patients. The concerned should be extra cautious when machines suffer damages,” he said.
The attendants said the functional diagnostic equipment are important for effective healthcare delivery and appealed to authorities to ensure smooth hospital operations.
The CT scan machine at SKIMS has been in the news for its technical snags owing to the huge rush of patients from peripheral as well as tertiary care hospitals affecting patient care.
Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Farooq Jan agreed that the CT scan was facing a huge burden of patients from the valley and they are working to install two more CT scan machines.
At the institute, the said CT scan machine has given its life. He said on a daily basis 60-70 tests are conducted on the same machine.
He explained that the CT scan machine from DRDO Hospital Khanmoo (already decided) would be shifted and installed in the department of radio-diagnosis SKIMS Soura very soon and the process has been completed in this regard.
The MS said that the institute is also planning to have another CT scan for which the documentation process is complete and it is to be shared with the purchase committee.
“Once the permission from the purchase committee is given then we will purchase the machine. In this regard a meeting is scheduled to be held soon and we hope that they will give us a go ahead,” he said.
