Patients Wait for Medical Equipment at OGH

With medical and diagnostic equipment breaking down at the Osmania general hospital, patients looking to undergo ECG, X-ray and endoscope-related diagnoses are facing problems. The contractor has not carried out minor maintenance work in six to seven months, insiders say. The lapses not only compel patients to spend substantial amount of money out of their pockets but also affects the overall quality of services. Many patients have to go without proper treatment for a long time, until they can afford the tests in private diagnostic centers. “This has been a regular affair with not just major diagnoses like MRI, but patients are frequently sent away even for simple blood tests. In fact, there are a number of diagnostic centers around the hospital that cater to these patients and make big money in the process,” said Dr PS Vijayender Goud, president, Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA).

In fact, defunct medical equipment supplied by the said contractor has been affecting the quality of healthcare in many government run hospitals and health authorities have given a month’s deadline to the company to rectify the lapses, after receiving numerous complaints. Interestingly, the company was chosen to ensure that the maintenance of medical equipment be streamlined across the network of government hospitals. “Nearly two years back, the state health department had framed guidelines for the streamlining process and a tender was floated. The agency accorded maintenance work. Serious action needs to be taken against the contractor if they do not rectify the lapses in a month’s time,” said a senior official from the state health department. – TOI