The obsolete CT scan machines of the Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Service and Research (VSSIMSAR), Burla that hardly come to use of the patients need immediate replacement with new machines here.
Hundreds of poor people depend on the medical, but they have to face immense difficulties as most of the sophisticated machines are found defunct due to lack of care and maintenance by the medical staff.
It is alleged that the medical authorities here, in order to give scope to the private nursing homes and diagnostic centres, intentionally keep the costly machines of the medical college (now a research institute) out of function. Many machines, including the CT scan, remain non-operational for months together. As per information, VSSIMSAR at Burla, catering to the needs of entire western Odisha and parts of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, has got two CT scan machines. But none of them comes to the use of the patients. While
one is in the department of Neurology, the other one has been kept for general use in the regional diagnostic centre. In spite of continuous repairing by the engineers of the Simens company, no improvement has taken place in making the machines operational. But it is another fact that VSSIMSAR has spent an exorbitant amount towards maintenance and repairing.
While one machine is totally non functional, the other one also remains out of order for most parts of the year. At the same time, the machines will also complete their life span after a few months in 2016.
In order the meet the requirement, Mahanadi Coalfields limited (MCl) has sanctioned Rs 4 crore from the CSR fund for a new CT scan machine. But that amount also remains unutilised. Even tender for purchase of the machine is yet to be floated, authentic sources from VSSIMSAR informed. But Superintendent of VSSIMSAR Dr lK Dash said the money is kept in custody of the Collector of the district and very soon the tender process will begin. “There is no scope for diversion of the ear-marked fund,” Dr Dash made it clear. But conscious citizens and the locals demand to expedite the process and put an ultra modern CT scan machine in place to save the lives of the poor people.