It is hard to believe but it's true! Considered the top tertiary hospital in the State, the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) does not have a CT scan facility for its patients. The state of affairs is such that patients are being ‘officially' referred to four private diagnostic centres located near NIMS, to get CT scans done.
“This has been the case for the last six months. The doctors are simply asking us to go to any of the four diagnostic centres for CT scans. Private diagnostic centres have their own rates for CT scans and we are being fleeced. We have even heard allegations that physicians get a cut for referring patients,” complains an angry T. S. Vijayanand, a CGHS beneficiary.
Silence questioned
The four diagnostic centres that are receiving patients from NIMS for CT scans, include Focus, Elbit, Lucid and Vista Diagnostics. Depending on the kind of CT scan, the cost at NIMS hovers between Rs. 1,200 and Rs. 2,500. A large number of patients, however, protest and question why hospital authorities and the State government have failed to take up repairs and provide CT scan facility at such a reputed hospital.
“What is the point of having a CT scan facility at NIMS when they have to refer us to private clinics? Why are they giving business to private diagnostic centres? CT scan rates at private labs hover between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 4,000 depending on the section. This is absurd. Why are the authorities silent on this,” fumes P. K. Ramdutt, another patient.
The present CT scan at NIMS, manufactured by Siemens, is 12 years old. Persons familiar to the NIMS CT scan facility said that two years ago the manufacturer had declared the CT scan equipment unfit for use.
“Despite this, the management continued to use the machine by taking up small repairs. Now, a major part of CT scan has broken down and nobody is coming forward to repair it. The manufacturer has refused to extend the annual maintenance contract. On an average, everyday, a minimum of 70 to 80 patients visiting the hospital need CT scans. Inpatients are forced to travel outside because of no CT scan,” hospital doctors pointed out.
The hospital superintendant, Nimma Satyanarayana, said that efforts were on to solve the problem of CT scan.
