SALEM: Critical diagnostic equipment aiding life-saving at the prestigious Mohan Kumaramangalam government hospital, upgraded into a state-of-the-art multi-specialty facility during the previous DMK regime, like angiogram machine and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan have been non-functional for more than ten days now, putting seriously ill patients into great difficulty.
The Salem GH is a nodal reference hospital for five western districts including Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Erode, even as patients as far as Villupuram also come here due to its advanced medical facilities.
But with key diagnostic machines like angiogram and MRI out of order, many patients particularly cancer and heart patients, are being pushed to private scan centres where they have to pay exorbitant charges. Poorer patients are forced to wait for a much longer period and hence the people demand that government should set right these machines at the earliest in the interests of the patients.
The general feeling among the public is that the AIADMK regime is indifferent towards the Salem GH's expanding needs and maintenance is poor, besides shortage of medical staff including nurses. The hospital is equipped with 13 ultra-modern surgical theatres, but hardly one or two is put to use now.
The Salem GH dean, K. Thirumalbabu, when contacted said they were doing their best to put back the equipment into operation soon. Technicians for repairing the MRI scan are awaited from Mumbai, which is causing the delay, he said, adding, they were expected soon.
