Pokhara, September 11 Patients  visiting the Western Regional Hospital in Pokhara have been deprived of critical health care services after the only CT scan machine there went dysfunctional a year ago. The machine,  which had two years’ guarantee, became inoperative barely one-and-a-half  months after the guarantee date expired. According to medical superintendent at the hospital Dr Shreekrishna Shrestha, the repair cost of the  machine is estimated at over Rs 10 million. “There is only one  company that supplies CT scan machines to the country. However, as there is no  proper coordination between the company and the health ministry, we have not been able to repair the machine so far,” said Shrestha. “The hospital  itself can’t afford to repair the machine. We have informed the  concerned ministry about our problem. A donor agency has shown interest in our  problem, let’s see if they will be able to help us.” The local patients have been paying through their nose for CT scan services in private hospitals and clinics after the machine went dysfunctional at the regional hospital. Though the hospital charges a modest fee of Rs 2,000 for each CT scan, locals have been paying up to Rs 5,000 for the service in private health facilities. Of 900 patients visiting the hospital each day, around 50 are accident victims seeking emergency treatment.