Children’s hospital: Diagnostic equipment out of order

LAHORE: The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Flow Cytometry machines at Children’s Hospital have been out of order for several years. The MRI machine has been out of order for 18 months, meaning patients at the hospitals must go elsewhere to get a scan costing up to Rs10,000 at private hospitals, sources told APP on Sunday. At least 10 patients are referred elsewhere a day to get MRI scans, the sources said. The Flow Cytometry machine, which is used to diagnose cancer, has been out of order for three years. Around 10 to 15 patients visit the hospital every day for the test, said the sources. A doctor at the hospital said that the test costs Rs17,000-22,000 at private hospitals. Children’s Hospital officials said they had repeatedly written to the Health Department to repair the machines. Parents of patients have also appealed to the Health Department, they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2012.