Several tuberculosis patients visiting 20 diagnostic and treatment centres in Bahawalpur division have complained about the lack of X-ray scan facility at these centres for over two months.
Ameen Ahmed, a resident of Khairpur, said during his two visits to a centre in two months, he was given medicine and other tests were carried out free-of-charge, but he was asked to get an X-ray examination from a private laboratory.
Chistian’s Muhammad Azeem, a daily-wage labourer, reported similar inconvenience.
He said that the minimum amount the private laboratories charged for an X-ray scan was Rs300, adding that his daily wage was between Rs200 and Rs300.
“I have no savings for the kinds of expenses. Whatever I earn in a day is spent on food for myself and my family,” he said.
A survey carried out by The Express Tribune revealed that X-ray plants were unavailable at seven (all rural health centres) of the 20 TB diagnosis and treatment centres in the division. The X-ray scan facility was unavailable at 13 other centres (four at tehsil headquarters hospitals, three at rural health centres, one each at Agha Khan Hospital Uch Sharif, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur Central Jail and Borstal Jail and two other centres in Bahawalpur and Hasilpur, respectively) due to lack of screens used to print scans.
Executive district officer (Health) Dr Saeed said the department lacked funds to replenish its stock of x-ray film. He said a letter had been sent to the Finance Department, adding that procurement would be made as soon as funds were released.
About the lack of machines at seven diagnostic centres, the EDO said there was no provision for X-ray machines at these centres in the original plan for setting up TB diagnosis and treatment facilities for their treatment in the division. He said patients visiting these facilities could get X-ray scans from their nearest centres with the facility. Meanwhile, he said, medicine and other tests were available free-of-charge at all these centres.
In addition to the diagnosis centres, there are 92 facilitation centres in the division to educate people about the disease and refer cases to public hospitals.
According to the Health Department figures, 5,355 TB patients were registered in Bahawalpur in 2011.
Diagnostic centres with x-ray machines
The four diagnostic and treatment centres are in tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals are in Ahmedpur, Hailpur, Yazman and Khairpur; one each in Bahawalpur Central Jail, Borstal Jail, Agha Khan Hospital, Uch Sharif; and Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur; two others in Bahawalpur and Hasilpur tehsils and three in Head Rajkan, Kohtri Bangla and Lal Sohanara RHCs.
Without x-ray machines
Khangaha Sharif, Mubarikpur, Uch Sharif, Cheenigoth, Headrajkan, Kohtri Bangla, Dera Bakha, Lal Sohanara, Qaimpur and Chonawala RHCs
Published in The Express Tribune, April 10th, 2012.
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