JAMMU: The private company, running CT scan machine at Government Medical College Hospital Jammu under Private Public Partnership mode, has offered to carry out free scans of patients injured in the border firing along International Border.
The decision comes after an exclusive report appeared in STATE TIMES saying that poor patients, especially the border victims, were made to fend for themselves in the private labs as the two machines in the GMC Hospital lie dysfunctional. The third CT scan machine, operated by the private company, does not carry out mandatory 20 per cent free scanning of the below poverty patients.
The STATE TIMES in its edition dated 7th October, 2014 under caption “GMC raises hands as borders turn hot, *CT scans ‘become’ defunct; injured left in lurch” exposed the working in the GMC hospital Jammu where the parties especially the border victims were being asked to go to private CT scan centers as the CT machine of the GMC Jammu turned to be faulty. Moreover, the PPP mode CT scan owner declined to conduct the tests of the border victims.
Under rules, the private CT Scan installed in GMC is bound to carry out 20 per cent scans free of cost-in case of patients belonging to financially weaker sections. This forced the attendants to get scans done at private labs on whopping charges. Some of the injured were referred to Chest Disease Hospital and SMGS Hospital, as the premier referral institution of the region remained virtually without the facility. Taking advantage of the situation, the private CT Scan Labs deployed vehicles and their representatives at the GMC to carry patients for scanning. The misery of injured turned out as boon for the private players.
“No wonder the CT scans have been deliberately rendered defunct for obvious reasons”, alleged some agitated relatives, who were seen screaming over the apathy of the hospital management.
GMC Principal Dr Ghansyam while talking to STATE TIMES said, “The private company which has installed CT scan machine under PPP mode at GMC Hospital has agreed to conduct the free tests of border villagers injured in Pakistani shelling.” He admitted that 20 per cent of the tests of BPL category patients have to be conducted free of cost. Moreover the GMC’s CT scan machine which had developed faults was also repaired on Wednesday, the Principal added.