Srinagar, May 21: A vital equipment meant to conduct CT-Angiography—a technique used to visualize arterial and venous vessels throughout the body—has gone defunct at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, causing huge inconvenience to patients.
 A number of patients at the Emergency Observation Ward of SKIMS alleged that the CT-Angio machine is defunct for the past eight days. “Every day we are promised that the equipment would be set right. But nothing is happening. The equipment is defunct for the past eight days and nobody is telling us when it would be made operational,” said a patient at the Emergency Ward.
 Atta Muhammad, who is accompanying his ailing mother at the Ward, said: “I got my mother admitted to SKIMS eight days back. She complained of some neurological problem. The doctors advised us to conduct CT-Angio test on her. But sadly we were told that the machine is not functioning. This should not be the case with SKIMS, where patients come with a hope to receive better treatment.”
 Atta alleged that “due to defunct CT-Angio equipment, doctors conducted CT- MRI of the patient.”
 Hospital sources told Greater Kashmir that the CT-Angio equipment in Radiology Section is the only machine available in J&K. “It has developed some fault because of which the requisite tests are not conducted,” they said. “It will take us couple of days more to rectify the problem. We have already called engineers from Delhi to set it right.”
 The patients urge the Director SKIMS to personally intervene in the matter and get the machine repaired. “It is a very serious issue. Patients are made to suffer for none of their fault. It would be good if the Director personally addresses the issue,” said a group of attendants at the Emergency Ward.
 The SKIMS Medical Superintendent, Dr Syed Amin Tabish, refused to comment on the issue. “Better talk to the Director SKIMS who is the authorized person to comment on the issue,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 IST