*Patients face delays, higher costs amid absence of backup facility
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 13: The lone MRI machine available in public health institutions across Jammu province has gone out of order at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, affecting diagnostic services for patients from all districts and once again highlighting the dependence of the entire province on a single MRI facility despite the establishment of four new Government Medical colleges in recent years in the region.
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Over the last few years, Government Medical Colleges have become functional at Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur and Doda, in addition to GMC Jammu. However, none of these institutions has an MRI facility, making GMC Jammu the sole centre providing MRI services in the public healthcare system of Jammu province.
The Three-Tesla MRI machine, installed about two years ago in the Department of Radio-diagnosis at GMC Jammu, developed a technical fault last evening. With no alternative MRI facility available in any other Government hospital or Medical College in the province, MRI services in the public sector have come to a standstill.
Even when operational, the MRI machine at GMC Jammu caters to patients referred from across Jammu province and remains heavily overburdened. The current breakdown has added to the difficulties of patients requiring urgent diagnostic imaging for spinal disorders, bone and joint ailments, neurological conditions and other serious diseases.
Patients visiting GMC Jammu expressed concern over the situation. A patient from Udhampur said he had been waiting for weeks for his scheduled MRI scan. “Now we are being told the machine is not working. Private centres are charging up to Rs 10,000, which is very difficult for us,” he said.
An attendant from Rajouri, whose elderly father requires an MRI for neurological evaluation, said the family had to return without the test. “There is no MRI facility in our district Medical College, so we came to Jammu. Now we are being advised to go to a private centre,” she said.
Another patient from Doda said treatment decisions have been delayed due to the unavailability of MRI services. “Doctors say further treatment depends on MRI reports. Without it, everything is on hold,” he said.
Private diagnostic centres continue to be the only alternative for patients, but at a significantly higher cost. While an MRI scan at GMC Jammu is conducted for around Rs 2,500, private centres charge between Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 for the same test. Private diagnostic facilities in Jammu city have multiple MRI machines, while the entire Government Medical College network in the province depends on a single facility.
Sources said the MRI machine at GMC Jammu is under warranty and a team of engineers from Philips India has already arrived to assess the fault. While the final technical report is awaited, sources indicated that repairs could take several weeks.
Confirming the development, Principal GMC Jammu Dr Ashutosh Gupta said engineers of the company concerned are examining the fault. He said efforts are being made to restore the machine at the earliest and it may take around 10 to 15 days to make it functional. He added that the institution is considering signing a Memorandum of Understanding with a private diagnostic centre as a temporary arrangement to facilitate MRI scans for patients.
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