Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jul 13: Hospitals in the South and North Kashmir regions are without MRI facilities, due to which patients are suffering. Officials said the absence of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in government hospitals has forced patients to seek expensive private diagnostic centres.
Patients from both south and north Kashmir said that they face a lot of challenges. Mohammad Abbas from Anantnag said doctors advised him to undergo an MRI, but the lack of facilities at the Government Medical College (GMC) leaves him no choice but to visit private centres, which charge between Rs 5000-6000 per scan.
“Many patients like me visit clinics to get MRI done at private diagnostic centres. Those who can’t afford it have no option but to give up,” said Irshad Ahmad, another patient.
The financial burden is particularly harsh on poor patients, delaying their diagnosis and treatment. Sajad Ahmad from Kupwara said that MRI facilities should be available at the district level, or at the very least, in GMCs. The lack of MRI facilities affects patients in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam. Patients have appealed to the Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah to ensure MRI facilities are made available, at least in GMCs.
A doctor at GMC Anantnag, wishing not to be named, said there is a critical need for MRI facilities. “MRI is a ‘non-invasive marvel’ that provides invaluable insights for accurate diagnosis,” he said, adding that MRI is essential for diagnosing neurological diseases, spinal cord lesions, vascular disorders, musculoskeletal conditions, and abdominal and pelvic conditions.
“MRI represents a lifeline to timely and precise diagnoses and the guiding hand for well-informed treatment decisions,” the doctor added. He revealed that a dedicated space for an MRI scanner has already been allocated in A-Block at GMC Anantnag, and they are hopeful the facility will be installed soon.
Meanwhile, a top official at GMC Anantnag said that MRI facilities are expected to be available within the next three months.
Similarly, an official from GMC Baramulla stated that their MRI facility is in the pipeline and is hopeful it will be installed within the ongoing year.
