By: Ahmad Shabir
Anantnag: The purchase of two sophisticated Electroencephalography (EEG), Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) machines by the authorities of Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag has failed to serve any purpose as both the machines are gathering rust as the hospitals has neither space for their installation nor trained technicians available to run them.
Three months ago, the GMC authorities’ procured EEG and ERCP machines with the purpose to keep both the important investigations available in the hospital, however, sources said, both the equipments are even awaiting installation.
“Both the machines are packed in the same boxes they were brought in three months ago and are gathering rust. Authorities have bitterly failed to identify the space for installation of these equipments and depute a staff for training to run them,” a source in the GMC said.
Now that the hospital authorities have identified a room where the machines will get installed but sources cited the non-availability of trained technicians as the major reason for them not being put to use.
Though the head of general medicine department, sources said, many a time recommended two persons for three month training who could later assist the doctors to conduct these investigations at the facility but nothing happened later.
“HOD medicine recommended two Para-medics from his department for training at SKIMS or SMHS to run these machines. The recommendations are supposed to be approved by the principal but he is hesitant to grant approval to their deputation for training,” said a source.
ERCP is a procedure to diagnose and treat problems in the liver, gall bladder, bile duct and pancreas while as EEG is a test that detects abnormalities in the brain waves.
Both the investigations are expensive, costing thousands of rupees at private diagnostic centers and hospitals.
The delay caused in making the two equipments functional at the tertiarycare facility is badly telling upon the poor patients visiting the hospital for treatment.
“One wonders as to why the authorities of the medical college spent huge amount on the purchase of machines and are now allowing them to gather rust with the result poor patients continue to suffer,” said another Para-medic posted in the hospital.
Principal GMC, Dr Tariq Qureshi, however, said that delay in putting the machines at use was caused by the dearth of space for their installation.
“Since there was a dearth of space in Endoscopy section for installation of ERCP, we had to identify two rooms for both machines. One more instrument for ERCP was pending which has also been procured now,” Principal said.
HOD medicine, Dr Ghulam Jeelani said that besides the dearth of space, the non-availability of trained technicians was the major reason for the machines not being put to use. “Though I have recommended some persons for training but their names were not approved,” Dr Jeelani said.
