Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, Jan 13: Patients visiting District Hospital Kulgam are facing severe hardships as the digital X-ray machine at the facility has been out of order for weeks.
Attendants and patients, some travelling long distances for medical care, said that they are left with no option but to visit private labs, which is both expensive and burdensome.
“We are left with no choice but to wait. We came from a remote village, hoping to get an X-ray done here, but the machine is not working. We are being asked to visit private labs, but the costs there are beyond what I can afford,” said Mohammad Saleem, a patient.
Not everyone can manage private clinics, he said, adding, “These tests not only drain us financially but also add to our mental stress.”
An attendant, Shazia Jan, said: “My son has been suffering from severe chest pain, and the doctor advised an X-ray. Private clinics charge between Rs 250 and Rs 300. Basic medical facilities are either outdated or unavailable.”
Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Kulgam, Dr A. G. Raina assured that steps are being taken to address the issue. “The old X-ray machine, installed in 2018 and operating on a PPP mode, has been defunct for a week. Engineers are working to make it functional, and it will be operational soon,” he said.
Raina said a DR system-based X-ray machine is being procured for the hospital as funds have already been released. “We are in the process of acquiring the latest technology X-ray machine, and it will be functional in the hospital within two weeks,” he added.
