RTI shocker: X-ray, ultrasound machines in govt hosps defunct for 20 years

Times of India: Nainital: Wednesday, 06 January 2016.

In a shocking revelation, an RTI query has found that key diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound machines, X-ray machines, and dental units in government hospitals and health centres have been lying dysfunctional for over 20 years in Chamoli, while 27 government hospitals are running without a single doctor in the second largest district of Uttarakhand.

In fact, two X-ray machines in Chamoli are lying defunct in tuberculosis hospitals since 1981 and 1994 respectively, according to the RTI reply.

"The RTI reply has revealed shocking state of affairs in Chamoli district. I am afraid to think in what condition government medical facilities are in other 12 districts of the state," said Gurvinder Singh Chaddha, a Haldwani-based activist, who filed the RTI application. The RTI was filed on July 9, 2015, and a reply was received on December 29, 2015.

According to the RTI reply, a copy of which is with TOI, in various government medical facilities in areas such as Joshimath, Badrinath, Chamoli, Karnprayag,Kendraghat and Gairsain key diagnostic equipment has been lying defunct for several years. Five X-ray machines are inoperative in government hospitals in Joshimath (2), Karnprayag (1), and Chamoli (2).

An ultrasound machine in the CHC in Joshimath has not been working since 2013, whereas two ECG machines are also not in use. Similarly, two ECG machines are not in use in district hospital Karnprayag. Two units of dental X-ray machines in CHCs of the district were also mentioned as lying in a defunct state in the RTI reply.

The RTI reply also revealed that only 40 doctors against the total sanctioned posts of 134 are posted in the government medical facilities in the district, which has a total of 41 government hospitals. Twenty-seven government hospitals are running without a single doctor in them including a trauma center in Karnprayag.

Viraaj Saah, chief medical officer of the district said, "Most of the machines which are lying defunct or not working are very old and irreparable. New machines have been installed in many centres and talks are on to get more for the other centres."