Kapilbastu, October 3:

The only government hospital in Kapilbastu is found to be using a sub-standard X-ray machine.

Although there is a government policy in place regarding the use of X-ray machine which allows the use of X-ray machine with over 100 MM, Prithvi Bir Hospital located in Taulihawa has been found using the x-ray machine with 20 MM.

According to health experts, the use of sub-standard X-ray exposes health risks to both patients and technical personnel. According to doctors, such machine tends to produce more radium radiation which may cause blood cancer and other cancer in both patients and technical personnel. Although the Department of Public Health has been approached for the new machine for the past five years, there has been no response from the department so far, an official said.