PIMS Non-functional: MRI machine bane for patients

Hospital administration has no funds to repair out-of-order apparatus.

ISLAMABAD: The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) radiology department has been the bane of patients as the administration has no funds to fix out-of-order equipment.

A number of patients coming to the hospital would leave feeling even worse after being informed that the machines were not working.

An MRI exam at a private clinic costs from Rs5,000 to Rs10,000, which most patients whom The Express Tribune spoke to said they could not afford to.

Among many such patients was Rubina Nawaz, 29, who urgently needs an MRI exam but she could not get it done from a private set-up due to the cost.

“The MRI machine has been out-of-order for a month. Each time I am told to wait for a few more days,” said Nawaz, a resident of Tarnol. She said that her father was a daily-wager, who barely earns Rs10,000 a month and she could not afford to go to a private hospital.

“I visit the hospital after every two days but every time I am told that it is not working,” she said.

A senior official at Pims confirmed that the MRI machine has not been functioning for the last month. On an average, 15 to 20 patients visit the hospital for MRIs, but all them have been put on the waiting list, he said.

“The hospital administration does not have funds to repair and maintain the machine. It still hasn’t paid last year’s maintenance dues,” said the official.

Earlier, the federal ombudsman had taken note of reports of important medical equipment being unusable and formed a committee to investigate and recommend solutions, but no progress has been made on this front.

“Sadly, the issue was raised by the media, but nothing has been done. Patients continue to suffer due to missing facilities,” said the official.

Pims Spokesperson Dr Ayesha Ishani said that the Capital Administration and Development Division Ministry has recently released Rs60 million for the hospital to fix such equipment. She said that the MRI machine should be functional within a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2015.