Patients suffer sans ultrasound facility

Bharat Khanna

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 18

Patients are in the lurch owing to the absence of the ultrasound facility at the Primary Health Centre (PHC)-cum-Community Health Centre (CHC) in Goniana. Ultrasound machines at the centre are of no use due to lack of a radiologist. The highest number of surgeries has been performed at the centre in the district.

Patients have to shell out between Rs 500 and Rs 600 to get their ultrasound test done at private centres. They have to pay even more to get their CT scan done.

Patients coming to the emergency wards, including expecting women, are suffering most as they cannot get their ultrasound tests done at nominal rates here in the absence of the ultrasound facility. They left with no option but to pay hefty charges at private centres.

The centre has performed the highest number of surgeries compared to the other seven such centres in Bathinda district — Bhagta, Nathana, Sangat, Mehraj, Maur, Raman, and Bhucho.

The ultrasound facility is not available at all these eight centres of Bathinda district. However, the PHC in Goniana has ultrasound machines to conduct the ultrasound test. But in the absence of a radiologist for a long time, these machines are of no use. More than 6,000 patients have availed the X-ray facility at the PHC in Goniana.

Ramandeep Singh, a Gonaina resident, said, “My wife is expecting a baby and the doctor has asked us to get the ultrasound test done following some complications. In the absence of the facility, we are left with no option but to visit private clinics for getting the test done at a high cost. I am a daily wager and have no other source of income.”

Bathinda Civil Surgeon Dr RS Randhawa could not be contacted on the issue. However, Senior Medical Officer, PHC, Goniana, Dr Anil Goyal said, “Earlier, we had tried a lot to get the facility started with the help of a private radiologist under the public-private partnership, but to no avail. We are trying our best to get it started.”

The ultrasound facility is available for patients at the Civil Hospital in Bathinda but only for two hours in a day. Patients have to wait over a month to get the ultrasound test done.