Jamalpur hospital runs without ultra-sonogram machines

Two ultra-sonogram machines of Radiology and Imaging Department of Jamalpur General Hospital have remained inoperative for about two and a half months, depriving many patients, especially pregnant women and those with abdominal cases, of proper treatment.
Besides, in absence of CT Scan and MRI machines at the hospital, brain stroke patients are often referred to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital, said Abul Kalam Azad, radiologist of the hospital.
Two ultra-sonogram machines at the Radiology and Imaging Department started providing service to the patients five years ago, hospital sources said.
Usually one machine is kept on service for two months at a stretch when the other is put off for the sake of smooth service and longevity of the machines.
Each machine, supposed to test 20 to 30 patients a day, has to take the load of 60 to 70 patients daily and consequently, both the machines went out of order on July 29, department sources said.
The two machines have been sent for repair to the companies concerned but it could not be ascertained when those will become functional again, they said.
"Sixty to 70 patients, including admitted ones and visitors, from gynaecology, medicine, surgery and child departments used to come to this department daily for pregnancy profile and other abdominal imaging tests. But both the ultra-sonogram machines are out of order now," said Gulner Begum, consultant of Radiology and Imaging Department of the hospital.
"The patients, about 80% of them pregnant women, had to pay Tk 110 for the tests as per the government rate but now they have to count Tk 500 to Tk 600 for the purpose at private clinics. The poor patients, especially the pregnant women, have become the worst sufferers," she added.
The government is being deprived of around Tk 7,000 per day as revenue due to the situation, said Radiologist Abul Kalam Azad.