The claims of Doon hospital administration that the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine would resume operations from Tuesday proved wrong due to delay in arrival of Helium gas. The machine could take at least three to four more days to get repaired.
The lone MRI machine of the hospital started malfunctioning on Thursday due to which the patients are forced to either wait for the machine to get corrected or shelve out extra money at the private MRI centres.
The company entrusted with the task of maintenance of the machine has dispatched its team to the city to correct the error. The team, however, is sitting idle for last three days as the consignment of helium gas has not arrived in the hospital yet. The Helium gas is used as coolant for the MRI machine.
The in-charge of MRI centre Mahendra Bhandari informed that Helium gas has to be imported so it usually takes some time to arrive. He disclosed that the consignment of the gas has reached Delhi.
The Principal Medical Superintendent (PMS) of Doon hospital Dr RS Aswal told The Pioneer that the machine could take some time to get repaired due to the delay in arrival of gas.
He said that due to the delay more time would be required to decongest the machine. Meanwhile, the patients are continuing to suffer in absence of MRI facility in the biggest Government hospital of the State.
The waiting list for MRI has crossed the 100 figure mark. In absence of the facility the doctors of the hospital are also refraining to advice for the MRI. “We are only suggesting MRI in the cases where it is needed urgently” said one of the senior doctors.
It is pertinent to mention here that the private MRI centres of the city always rejoice when the MRI machine of Doon hospital develops some snag as patients of the hospital are diverted towards them.
These private centres charge about Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 for an MRI which is available for only Rs3500 at Doon Hospital. In addition to this the hospital does free MRI for Below Poverty line (BPl) patients.