Berhampur: A patient from Gopalpur area of Ganjam district had to return home Wednesday without getting his hand X-rayed at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur due to alleged unholy nexus between private diagnostic centres and government doctors.
The doctor in charge of the radiology department refused to X-ray the patient due to ‘staff shortage’.
Suresh Sahoo had hurt his right hand while working at home. He visited the MKCG Medical College and Hospital November 10 when he felt pain. After registering, he went to the OP department to get his hand examined. The doctor asked him to get an X-Ray.
Suresh went to the radiology department. But to his surprise the doctor on duty there asked him to get the X-Ray done at a private diagnostic centre and said it must be a digital X-Ray.
He again visited the department November 11 and requested the radiographer for an X-Ray. He was again refused, and this time the excuse was that the machine was out of order. He was asked to come Wednesday.
Suresh again visited the department Wednesday. This time the radiographer wrote on Suresh’s radiological investigation report card that the machine was not functioning due to staff shortage. He also wrote on his card that he must get an X-Ray done at a private facility.
“The X-Ray of all the fingers cannot be done here. Only a digital X-Ray can do it. Due to shortage of radiographers the facility cannot be made available here,” the Radiologist wrote on the card.
Suresh then went to the Superintendent of the Medical College and as he was on leave he went to Principal Dr Radha Madhab Tripathy.
After seeing the report, Dr Tripathy reprimanded the staff of the radiology department and asked them not to repeat it.
Dr Tripathy asked Suresh to go to the radiology department and get the X-Ray done. But when he reached the department it was found locked.
Dr Tripathy said he had reprimanded the staff of the concerned department and had asked them to X-Ray Suresh free of cost.
The public is not getting benefits of the government’s Nidan Scheme due to the unholy nexus between hospital staffers and private diagnostic centres.
“Suresh is not the only victim. Many patients are refused facilities like CT scan, digital X-ray, ultrasound scan and dialysis. Although the CM and the Health Minister have been informed there is no change,” said Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch Coordinator Abani Gaya.
PNN