Patients denied test facilities inside
The lone X-ray machine in the only chest disease clinic in the district has not been used for more than a year, while all tests are done from private clinics.
Comilla Chest Clinic is the only government chest disease clinic in the district, and hundreds of patients go there for treatment.
Patient Khorshed Alam, 55, of Durgapur in Sadar upazila, said he had to get blood test and X-ray done from an outside private diagnostic centre suggested by the clinic. He added that if he had got the tests done from the clinic, the cost would be bearable for him.
This correspondent visited the clinic on Thursday and found patients getting X-ray and other tests done from private diagnostic centres.
Medical Officer of Comilla Chest Clinic Dr Azimur Rahman said there are two medical officers, but consultant post is vacant, adding that an X-ray technician joined last month. No blood test is done at the centre, he said.
X-ray technician Mushley Uddin said he joined in October, 2017. The X-ray machine is okay but there is no radiation preventive wall so they cannot operate it. They have applied to the civil surgeon to solve the problem.
Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mozibur Rahman said if the X-ray machine of Comilla Chest Clinic is not in operation for any technical fault they may send patients to Sadar Hospital for X-ray and blood tests.
He is trying to appoint a junior consultant within a month, he added.
The civil surgeon told this correspondent on Thursday that patients can get X-ray done from Comilla Chest Clinic from now as he had arranged a radiation preventive screen for them.
About 1087 patients visited the centre in October. Except sputum test all blood tests and X-ray are done at private diagnostic centres.
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