X-ray films not available at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, November 20

The non-availability of photographic films used for X-ray scans at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here is forcing patients to pay more money at private X-ray centres.

While the fee for X-ray at government hospitals as per the user charges for various services at government hospitals earlier notified by the state government is Rs 70 only, the patients have to spend a minimum of Rs 150 at private centres.

The hospital is equipped with three X-ray machines, but in the absence of the X-ray films, these are of no benefit to the patients coming to the hospital.

A large number of patients with accidental and medico-legal injuries have to get the scans conducted from the private centres. Local RTI activist Ravinder Sultanwind said that non-availability of X-ray films at the hospital benefits private scan centres.

A patient said they came to know about the shortage of films after they reached the X-ray room. “We had to rush to a private centre and bring the report before the doctor left. Otherwise, we would have to come here again tomorrow,” he said.

“Earlier too there had been complaints of hospital employees sending patients to private diagnostic labs. It is a matter of investigation if the shortage was created to benefit private scan centres,” he said while requesting the state government to ensure better medical services for poor patients.

However, the hospital authorities said there had been a delay in supplies for the drug store of the government. The hospital officials stated that fresh supplies would be received soon.