Hospital machines lie defunct, courtesy technicians’ shortage

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 18

The state government installed multi-crore ultra-modern MRI machine worth Rs 13 crore at Government Rajindra Hospital today.

However, the fact is whether the hospital will be able to make the machine actually functional or not.

This is not the first time that the hospital has received sophisticated machines and other equipment, but many of them are lying defunct in different wards due to shortage of technicians. The condition is so miserable that many of them have already reduced to trash.

For instance, there are two ventilators in the paediatrics ward which costed about Rs 7 lakh each but they are lying in one corner of the ward for the past over three months as there is no technician to operate them.

Besides, about 13 cardiac monitors each costing about Rs 35,000 are lying defunct in the main emergency ward because of incomplete wiring.

Moreover, there are only six radiographers in the hospital against 18 posts who are working in four shifts.

Of these six, one is in the evening and the night shift, which leaves hardly two to three employees for the morning shift, whereas about 150 X-rays are done everyday.

One of the radiographers say there are days when they are made to do double shift or even called from home as there is heavy rush. “Patients keep fighting with us but we are helpless as we have limited manpower. We have time and again brought the matter to the notice of the senior authorities, but to no avail,” he added.

Despite the fact that the MRI machine was inaugurated today itself by Medical Education and Research Minister Anil Joshi and Water Supply and Sewerage Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, a 47-year old patient Jasvir Kaur, who came to the hospital, was denied the facility claiming that the MRI could not be done as there was no one to operate the machine.

Meanwhile, hospital superintendent Dr BL Bhardwaj when contacted said they had already brought the matter to the notice of the senior functionaries and they have been assured that the technicians for sophisticated machinery would be provided shortly.

“The department has recently promoted a few lab technicians and others posts too will be filled shortly,” he added.

However, a senior doctor said the department had promoted Class IV employees as lab technicians and they were still not fully trained to handle sophisticated equipment.