Sunsari, May 26

Patients visiting Dharan-based BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences have been hit hard after various medical equipment at the hospital’s radiology department went dysfunctional almost a month ago.

The CT scan, endoscopy and MRI equipment at the hospital have broken down for want of timely repair and maintenance. Patients visiting the hospital are forced to arrange those services from private clinics at higher costs.

Tika Mangmen of Dharan Sub-metropolis said he had to go through a lot of hassle and pay extra amount when he recently conducted a CT scan of his sick wife Seema outside the hospital. He said, “As the CT scan machine at the hospital was dysfunctional, I had to pay a lot for at another private clinic for my wife’s CT scan.” According to the BPKIHS regulation, it does not accept or recognise the health examination/tests conducted outside the hospital. However, Deputy Director at the hospital Pappu Rijal said they had no option but to send patients outside the hospital for different tests. He said efforts were under way to fix the equipment shortly.

Though the general price for a CT scan is Rs 4,500, it costs 6,500 inside the hospital. Other private health institutions outside the hospital premises charge Rs 7,500 for the same.

Locals today urged the BPKIHS management to fix the equipment pronto. Hundreds of patients visit the hospital for MRI, CT scan and endoscopy services on a daily basis.