Ultrasound machines lie unused at Keylong, Kaza hospitals

Dipender Manta

Mandi, February 13

Ultrasound machines are lying unused in hospitals at Keylong, Shansha, Udaipur and Kaza in Lahaul and Spiti district for a long time and patients needing services of the Radiology Department are suffering.

At present, the ultrasound machine at the Kaza hospital is dysfunctional because of some technical issues and the hospital authorities are trying to purchase a new machine. Tanzin Wangial Rubah, a resident of the Spiti valley, says, “We have been suffering in the absence of a radiologist at the Kaza hospital for a long time. For ultrasound and other tests related to Radiology Department, patients have to travel around 250 km to get these done at a hospital at Rampur in Shimla district. It is not only a costly affair but also risky for patients to travel such a long distance to avail of necessary health services.”

Takpa Tanzin, another resident of the Spiti valley, says, “It is unfortunate that the state government has neglected this tribal region. Health institutions in this remote area should be fully equipped to provide better medical services to rural people. Successive governments led by the Congress and the BJP did not bother to improve health services in the region.”

Mohan Lal, a resident of the Lahaul valley, says, “The Keylong district hospital has no ultrasound facility and people of the valley have to travel a long distance to avail of related health services at the regional hospital, Kullu. Ultrasound machines are available in the hospitals at Keylong, Shansha and Udaipur, but these are lying unused.”

Tenzin Norbu, Block Medical Officer at the Kaza hospital, says that there is no radiologist available at the hospital and the ultrasound machine is also lying defunct due to some technical snag. A radiologist will be appointed soon at the Kaza hospital, he adds.

Dr Roshan Lal, Chief Medical Officer, District Hospital, Keylong, says that at present, there is no radiologist at the hospital but by the next month, a radiologist will be appointed there because two youth are undergoing training in the Radiology Department.

Residents bear the brunt

• For ultrasound and other tests related to the Radiology Department, patients from the Spiti valley have to travel around 250 km to go to a hospital at Rampur in Shimla district
• Similarly, residents of the Lahaul valley have to travel a long distance to avail of health services at the regional hospital, Kullu
• It is not only a costly affair but also risky for patients to travel such a long distance. Local residents lament that successive governments have neglected the tribal region
• Health institutions in this remote area are not fully equipped to provide better medical services to villagers