Srinagar, Feb 09: Several women visiting government hospitals for Ultrasound Sonography (USG) and other diagnostic procedures have expressed discomfort when attended to by male radiologists at a time when the rural hospitals face shortage of medical imaging technologists.
Shagufta Bano, from Srinagar, said last year she visited the maternity hospital Lal Ded to get her USG done and the procedure was done by a male radiologist.
“Even there are male radiologists despite being the largest maternity hospital which is a concern for many women who are uncomfortable with males doing the procedures,” she said.
At the maternity hospital, while female radiologists are available, male radiologists also conduct USG and other procedures for pregnant women.
“Yes, it is inconvenient for women. Many women don’t express themselves. The hospital also does not allow attendants to come inside even if a pregnant woman is unwell,” she said.
Nusrat, a mother of two children, from Budgam said expecting mothers entering diagnostic labs in hospitals themselves have to sit on stretchers or beds whether there are male or female radiologists.
“This is a wicked problem in Srinagar as well as in rural hospitals. In private hospitals also there are male radiologists and women often feel uncomfortable,” she said.
Radiologists are meant to diagnose injuries and diseases using medical imaging procedures (exams/tests) such as USG, ECG, X-rays, CT, MRI, PET etc.
Mudasir Wani, an advocate, said women are often reluctant when there is a male radiologist. “Many women are shy and they do not speak out. It would have been better if there are female radiologists separately so that they can express themselves freely,” he said.
“This goes against the dignity of women. Some women are reluctant and many don’t do the diagnostic procedures when they know there is a male radiologist,” he said.
Wani said there should be separate diagnostic facilities for male and female patients so that female patients do not face issues. “There should be a female radiologist for female patients,” he said.
Director, Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather said there are not enough female radiologists, which is happening throughout India and abroad. “Only males are opting for this profession. If there are 100 radiologists 95 percent of them are males,” he said.
As per the Rural Health Statistics (RHS) report 2021-22 of the Union Health Ministry, there are some 30 posts of radiographers vacant in Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
About the shortage of radiologists in some valley hospitals, the director admitted that there is a shortage at some places. “We have radiologists in district hospitals and in CHC level as well. Outside J&K there are radiologists at district hospitals only,” he said.
