Srinagar: In Srinagar, hospitals falling under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir are without MRI and CT scan facilities.
Besides, there is only one permanent female X-Ray technician across Srinagar hospitals managed by the Directorate of Health Services.
“There are only 3 permanent X-Ray technicians, of which one is female. In the majority of the hospitals, there are no female ECG technicians. Female patients are reluctant to go for Electrocardiogram tests, mostly done by male employees,” one of the officials said.
The official claimed that there has been no direct recruitment of X-Ray technicians in the Srinagar Zone for the last five years.
“Most of the female patients prefer to go for ECG tests at private diagnostic centers as no female ECG technician is available in the government hospitals. However, poor patients have no choice but to approach a male ECG technician,” he said.
Meanwhile, in response to an application filed under RTI Act by senior Journalist and social activist, MM Shuja, the Chief Medical Officer Srinagar has confirmed that no Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and CT Scan is available in any of the health centers functional under the jurisdiction of Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.
The absence of technical hands has made matters worse. “The upgraded NTPHCs have facilities like X-Ray, UltraSound, but due to a lack of technical staff, they don’t use these machines.
One of the top officials claimed that those who are at the helm of affairs at the Directorate of Health Services are in slumber. He said authorities must not sleep over such matters as it pertains to the health issues of common people.(KNT)
