Excelsior Correspondent
TANAGMARG, Oct 18: An out of date X-ray machine that technicians use to obtain images at Primary Health Centre Tangmarg in North Kashmir is putting patients and staff to high dose of radiations.
Nearly ten years back the X-ray machine was installed in the hospital after the existing machines broke down. “The machine was brought as a temporary replacement. We were told that the old machine will be repaired and put to use. But, several years have passed the machine is yet to be restored,” an employee at the Hospital said, adding in absence of an updated X-ray machine nearly 70 percent of the patients are being referred to private clinics.
A former X-ray technician at the hospital told Excelsior that they warned the Government about the dangers posed by the outdated equipment and suggested it be replaced with a new one.”We have time and again written to the higher-ups about the replacement of the machine,” he said. “At the same time, we’ve made suggestions that outdated machines be replaced in hospitals where there are health risks. If all the hospitals have been updated with new machines why was this useless machine dumped at our hospital?” he asked.
While explaining the harmful effects that old X-ray machine can have on people’s health, he said: “Generally, when the quality of an X-ray image is low, the technicians are forced to increase the dose of radiation to obtain a clear image. The older the radiation machine, the greater the risks posed to patients and technicians”.
Block Medical Officer, Saba Wani, when contacted admitted that the X-ray machine is obsolete and need to be replaced. “It’s true that the X-ray machine is old and we have been demanding its replacement for last two years. We have to unnecessarily refer patients to the other hospitals due to lack of the latest X-ray machine,” she said. She, however, added: “Recently I received a letter from the department regarding the issue. I am hopeful that the hospital will get its new machine soon.”
Follow our WhatsApp channel
