Valley’s 3 district hospitals without CT scans

Srinagar, Dec 06: Three major district hospitals including two in central Kashmir areas are without Computed Tomography (CT) Scan facilities pushing patients to the wall.
Officials said the district hospitals that have no CT scan facilities include district hospital Budgam, DH Shopian, DH Ganderbal which causes inconvenience to the patients.
The problem is worse in the rural areas where patients have no option other than visiting a government hospital at the district level for the same.
Patients from Budgam, Shopian and Ganderbal areas expressed serious concern over the lack of CT Scan machines saying that patients in the districts are suffering immensely.
They said the absence of a CT Scan machine in a medical facility can significantly impact patient care, leading to prolonged suffering and delayed diagnoses.
Mohd Yousuf, from Budgam, said medicos are compelled to refer emergency and trauma patients to Srinagar hospitals for treatment which sometimes takes heavy on patients. He said patients are compelled to visit private diagnostic centers in Srinagar.
In emergencies, the absence of a CT scan machine poses a significant challenge for doctors in accurately assessing the severity of injuries.
“Without this crucial diagnostic tool, physicians encounter difficulties in promptly and precisely determining the extent of trauma or internal damage suffered by patients,” he said.
Junaid Ahmad, a resident of Shopian patients requiring detailed and accurate imaging for various medical conditions face hardships, as the lack of a CT Scan machine hinders timely and precise assessments.
“Without access to this advanced diagnostic tool, patients may experience delays in treatment, potentially exacerbating their health conditions. Addressing the need for a CT Scan machine is crucial for enhancing the overall healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that patients receive prompt and effective medical interventions,” he said.
As per the doctors, conditions that necessitate quick and precise diagnosis, such as neurological disorders, internal injuries, and certain cancers, are particularly affected.
Health officials from Budgam said that there is no space for the old hospital building however they are going to create space at the new hospital building.
“The old hospital is not up to the mark. Now govt. has approved some 50 crores for the construction of a new hospital and it will have state-of-the-art facilities,” the official said.
Similarly, officials from Ganderbal said they had earlier requested for the installation of two CT Scans for District Hospital Ganderbal and Sub District Hospital Kangan. However, Kangan Hospital has got a functional CT Scan while the DH awaits for the same. “We are expecting the CT Scan within some time and it is in the pipeline,” they said.
Health officials in Health Department Shopian said they are expecting a CT Scan machine within one month as the facility has been approved by the government.
“We are making the preparations. All the engineering works have been done once the machine reaches here that will be installed,” they said.
Doctors also agree that patients face financial burden as due to the lack of CT scans they are forced to rush to private labs for the procedure, which costs between Rs 2500 to Rs 3000 and it is unaffordable for many patients.
Spokesperson Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mir Mushtaq said that the department is prioritizing and working hard to make CT Scan machines available in hospitals.
“We are getting CT Scan machines and very soon we will be having the facility in all the district hospitals in the valley. Some more have been approved,” he said.
He mentioned that they have been working on expanding machinery in rural hospitals, emphasizing that prioritizing rural healthcare facilities is essential to alleviate the burden on tertiary care hospitals.