The patients visiting the Doon Women hospital here are facing problems as the Sonography (Ultrasound) machine of the hospital is out of order for last eight days. The patients are either being asked to get Sonography done from the private centres or wait for at least twenty days.
In absence of the regular Sonography machine the lone radiologist of the hospital Dr SM Shukla is performing Sonography of the indoor and emergency patients by a portable machine which was provided by the Chief Medical Officer.
The portable machine is not as efficient as a regular machine and the Radiologist is doing only 15-17 Sonography daily as compared to 75-80 daily when the main machine was functional. Dr Shukla told The Pioneer that the hospital needs at least two radiologists and two Sonography machines as patient load on the hospital is very high.
Senior Gynecologist Dr Renuka Naithani told The Pioneer that the hospital is having a maintenance contract with the Konica Company and the hospital had intimated it about the breakdown and the engineers of the company are soon expected. The Sonography machine of the hospital is under a Comprehensive Maintenance Contract till September 25.
The hospital caters more than 400 patients in its Out Patient Departments (OPDs) and out of them doctors’ advice Sonography on 150-175 patients. The hospital has a waiting list of 14-16 days for Sonography in the normal times when the machine is functional.
The breakdown of the Sonography machine of Doon hospital has caused problems to the normal patients but the private clinic operators are happy with the situation as they are getting more business these days.
The Doon female hospital caters large number of pregnancy cases and the Sonography of these patients are free as per the policy of the Government. The private Sonography centres are charging anything between Rs800 — 1500 for Sonography from the hapless patients.