by
Hilal Shah
SRINAGAR: Patient care at Sub District Hospital (SDH) Kupwara has been severely affected after the hospital’s CT scan machine remained defunct for the last 15 days, forcing patients to seek expensive diagnostic tests at private centres.
The breakdown of the crucial diagnostic facility has triggered resentment among residents, who said the hospital caters to a large population from Kupwara district as well as far-flung border areas, including Karnah, Keran, Machil, Chowkibal, Kumkadi, Budnamal and Jumagund.
Residents said the absence of the CT scan facility has caused immense hardship, particularly to poor patients and those requiring emergency diagnostic examinations.
Social activist Riyaz Ahmad Bhat alleged that despite repeated public complaints, the authorities had failed to resolve the issue.
“It is unfortunate that the CT scan machine at SDH Kupwara has remained non-functional for the past fifteen days, causing immense hardship to patients. Poor patients cannot afford private clinics where they have to spend thousands of rupees for a scan. The government must permanently repair the existing machine or install a new one,” Bhat said.
Patients visiting the hospital narrated difficulties faced due to the lack of diagnostic facilities.
Shaista, a 45-year-old woman suffering from lung cancer, said she was struggling to manage additional medical expenses after being referred to a private diagnostic centre.
“I have to undergo regular medical examinations, but because the CT scan machine is not working, I was advised to visit a private diagnostic centre. We are already spending huge amounts on treatment, and now additional expenses have become unbearable for us,” she said.
Ghulam Hassan Khatana, an elderly resident of Machil Lolab who had travelled from a border village to the hospital, said patients from remote areas suffer the most whenever such facilities stop functioning.
“We travel long distances with great difficulty hoping to get treatment at SDH Kupwara, but unfortunately patients are being forced to return disappointed. Not everyone can afford private hospitals,” he said.
Another patient, Dilshada, 36, who was admitted in critical condition, said her attendants had been under tremendous stress due to the absence of diagnostic facilities at the hospital.
“My attendants have been running from one place to another for tests. If the CT scan facility was functional here, patients like me would not have suffered so much,” she said.
A health official, wishing anonymity, said the absence of the CT scan facility was creating serious difficulties in handling emergency and critical cases.
“If any critical patient, accident case or serious patient arrives at the hospital, we are left with no option but to refer them to GMC Handwara, Baramulla or Srinagar for advanced diagnostic facilities,” the official said.
Another health official told Kashmir Life that the machine had developed a technical fault and efforts were underway to restore the service.
“Actually, there is a technical error in the CT scan machine. Earlier, whenever any issue arose, the company handling the maintenance used to repair it within three to four days, but their contract has now expired. We are in touch with another company, and their engineer has to come from Delhi, as the CT scan machine is highly complicated and cannot be handled by a local engineer. Hopefully, after Eid, the engineer will visit, and the machine will be made functional within a few days,” the official said.
Medical Superintendent SDH Kupwara, Dr Mohammad Amin Mir, said he had recently taken charge and was aware of the issue.
“I actually joined only the day before yesterday, and I have taken note of the matter. Hopefully, within one or two days, the issue will be sorted out, and the CT scan machine will be made functional,” he said.
