Lone MRI machine also out of order for last one week
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 3: Notwithstanding sufferings of the whole population of Jammu province, which is presently dependent on the lone MRI machine of Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for diagnosis of various ailments, the authorities concerned have failed to procure and install the first ever 3-Tesla MRI Machine in the Institution even after over three years of the start of the process of the procurement of this upgraded MRI machine.
Official sources told Excelsior that the decision to procure 3-Tesla MRI Machine for GMC Jammu was taken in a meeting of officers of Health & Medical Education Department chaired on 18-01-2019 by the then Advisor to Governor Vijay Kumar and accordingly in compliance to the directions of the Advisor, JKMSCL was asked to float tenders for procurement of the Machine. They said an amount of Rs 6.5 crore for the procurement of the Machine was then sanctioned in Capex Budget of GMC Jammu and it was assured by the Advisor that the balance amount shall be released subsequently.
“Finally, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited placed order for the procurement of 3-Tesla MRI Machine on 26-09-2019 to Philips Medical Systems Netherland through Philips India Limited after the approval of State level purchase committee but till date neither the machine has been delivered nor installed in GMC Jammu with the reasons best known to the authorities concerned,” sources said.
They said long ago, some construction work on the proposed site (Old Medical Record Section) for installation of the Machine was also done and the Letter of Credit for procurement of the MRI Machine was also opened last year but it lapsed due to slow approach adopted by the College authorities. They said now once again, the process for opening the Letter of Credit for procurement of the machine has been initiated but how much time it will take, God knows!
Sources said the whole population of Jammu province is dependent on over two-decades old 1.5 Tesla MRI Machine installed in Radio diagnosis Department of GMC Jammu as no other MRI Machine is installed in any District Hospital or newly opened Government Medical Colleges in entire Jammu province whereas the MRI Machine of GMC Jammu remains out of order due to one or other reason, leaving the patients to suffer.
They informed that for last one week, the MRI Machine of GMC Jammu has been lying non-functional and the whole population is suffering in the absence of any other alternative machine. “Had the 3-Tesla MRI Machine been installed timely in GMC Jammu, people wouldn’t have to suffer, “sources said, adding, the authorities concerned should wake up from slumber and take effective steps for the early procurement and installation of the 3-Tesla MRI Machine in GMC Jammu without any further delay.
“Government has upgraded the health infrastructure of the UT to a great extent in last two years but still district hospitals and new Government Medical Colleges lack diagnostic facilities like MRI and patients from even Poonch, Rajouri and Doda have to come to Jammu to avail this facility,” sources said and urged the authorities of Health & Medical Education Department to start MRI facilities on Public-Private Partnership mode in new GMCs in the interest of the patients.
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