Banihal, May 4: Patients at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Banihal have alleged serious lapses in basic diagnostic care, claiming that non-functional X-ray services are affecting treatment and causing hardship, particularly for those arriving from remote areas.
The issue came to light after a video went viral on social media in Monday showing a father from Gool who had brought his son to SDH Banihal for treatment following a fracture caused by a fall. The attendant alleged that the hospital denied them X-ray examination, citing the expiry of the contract for digital X-ray services.
Speaking to the media, the father expressed anguish over the situation, stating that in the absence of X-ray facilities, proper diagnosis was not possible. He said it was disappointing that despite having a sizeable hospital infrastructure, essential services remained defunct, forcing patients to seek alternatives elsewhere.
Hospital sources indicated that the X-ray services have been ‘suspended’ due to the expiry of a tender allotted to a private company responsible for diagnostic services across Jammu and Kashmir. The services are likely to remain affected until the tender process is renewed.
When contacted, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ramban, Dr Kamal Ji Zadoo, acknowledged the issue and said the situation is not limited to Banihal but prevalent in several parts of the Jammu division. He attributed the disruption to the expiry of a contract awarded through the National Health Mission (NHM).
Dr Zadoo said that all Block Medical Officers have been directed to make interim arrangements by procuring necessary equipment, including printers, from hospital development funds to resume digital X-ray services. He added that hospitals equipped with manual X-ray plants have been instructed to conduct examinations without delay.
The CMO assured that efforts are underway to restore X-ray services across all healthcare facilities and that necessary arrangements will be made until fresh tenders for digital X-ray operations are floated
