Daily Times

LAHORE: Lack of essential medical diagnostic equipment is causing severe problems to the poor patients in the province, and they are being forced to pay a heavy cost for it.

Contrary to the claims of good governance, the Punjab government has failed to install any Computerised Tomography (CT scan) machine at 21 district headquarters hospitals (DHQs) across Punjab.

After failing to provide this diagnostic facility to hospitals, the Primary and Secondary Healthcare (P&SHC) Department has decided to install CT scan machines through public-private partnership. Private firms would be allowed to install CT scan machines in DHQs hospitals besides managing the diagnostic facilities.

CT scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images of bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. CT scan images provide more detailed information than plain X-rays do. A CT scan can be used to visualise nearly all parts of the body and can diagnose the disease or injury as well as to plan medical, surgical or radiation treatment.

Well-placed sources close to this development said that DHQ hospitals lacking CT scan facilities include Kasur, Mianwali, Jhelum, Sheikhpura, Rajanpur, Khaniwal, Toba Tek Singh, Pakpatan, Chiniot, Muzaffargarh, Attock, Nankana Sahib, Bhakkar, Khushab, Vehari, Narowal, Layyah, Lodhran, Mandi Bahauddin, Okara and Jhang.

Over half the population of Punjab lives in these districts and are unable to afford private medical care. They usually go to public hospitals for treatment but the provincial government has failed miserably in fulfilling their needs.

A radiologist, who wished not to be quoted, said that a CT scan machine is used to quickly examine the people who may have internal injuries from traffic accidents or other types of trauma. “CT scan is absolutely essential for district headquarters’ hospitals as it can help in the diagnoses of head injuries and other serious complications in emergency cases. The absence of these machines can be life threatening, as it is not possible for doctors to provide emergency care to trauma victims without proper diagnoses,” he added.

The government, instead of purchasing CT scan machines form its own resources, has directed P&SHC Department to engage with private parties and organisations for installation of 16 brand new slice CT scanners in the premises of DHQ hospitals. The complete staff of the facility, including a specialist, reporting radiologist, security guards would be provided by the concerned party.

Sources said that according to proposed standard operating procedures (SOPs), this system would comprise of main unit, DT injector, laser imager, UPS, power generator and power transformer, as per specifications. The government has proposed user charges for CT scan and the private firm would be authorised to charge Rs 1,000 per scan from OPD patient besides an equal amount would be paid by the government too. However, the party may quote it’s own acceptable rates in terms of percentage. Surprisingly, no mechanism has been chalked out for those poor and needy patients who cannot afford user chargers.

SOPs further stated that indoor and emergency patients would pay nothing while the government would pay Rs 2,000 per patient. The user charges would include the price of X-Ray films and contrast media. Same rates and criteria would be applicable for those patients referred from other government hospitals.