Come another day: In absence of X-ray films, blast victims being turned away

Others forced to pay more for private facilities.

MIRANSHAH:

The Agency Headquarters Hospital (AHQ) Miranshah, North Waziristan Agency has been out of X-ray film for the last four months, forcing patients to pay more for X-rays at private clinics.

Talking to The Express Tribune, X-ray department in-charge Dr Mir Qadir said five months back he sent a letter to the Fata Secretariat director health to provide them x-ray film, adding that for one month they were taking three X-rays on one film which was for an X-ray in which the probability of the wrong diagnosis was much higher. For the last four months, they haven’t attended a single patient as the stock was finished.

“My wife who is expecting a baby broke her hand when she slipped during the recent rains,” said Asadullah, who hails from Mada Khel, a remote village. When I brought my wife to the hospital the doctor told me to get an X-ray, but they have run out of film, while all the private clinics and hospitals in Miranshah are closed due to the curfew, he said.

“My wife’s condition is deteriorating every moment.”

Doctors refused to diagnose the fracture without an x-ray, he added, grieved that he couldn’t do anything to help.

Asad wasn’t the only one waiting helplessly. A number of other patients along with their family members lined the hospital’s corridors praying for the curfew to be lifted so they could get X-rays.



Muhammad Noor who travelled for 14 hours to reach the hospital from Manzar Khel said he reached the hospital on Friday evening. The staff told me to take my daughter who is suffering from measles for an X-ray. I got one done for Rs250 at a private clinic after which the doctor prescribed three more X-rays and I’ve only Rs300 in my pocket.

Due to the curfew, we’ll have to wait for the private clinic to reopen, he added. “Now the doctor will see the child on Monday as the hospital will be closed.” Noor said he borrowed money from a villager he came across in Miranshah.

Speaking on the unavailability of X-ray film in the hospital, Dr Muhammad Ali said, “I wrote a letter to the Fata Secretariat director health four months back, but nothing has been done about it so far.” Due to deteriorating law and order and unavailability of X-ray film in the hospital, patients have to go to private clinic, he added.

Dr Ali said that X-ray costs Rs150 at the hospital while it costs from Rs250 to 300 at private clinic and hospitals. We not only receive patients with routine fractures but also victims of bomb explosions in critical condition who we have to refer to Bannu and other places as they can’t be treated without an X-ray first.

Most tribesmen who visit the hospital are financially challenged and cannot afford to pay for treatment in private clinics. “The government should immediately provide X-ray film to the hospital, otherwise it would be better to close down the department,” Dr Muhammad Ali said.

Despite repeated attempts, the Fata health directorate could not be contacted.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2013.