RAWALPINDI: Due to the closure of Holy Family Hospital (HFH) for three months for reconstruction and renovation, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine of the hospital has become dysfunctional and patients are forced to go to private hospitals for tests as it is the only machine in any public sector hospital in the city.There is no MRI machine in any public hospital in the district, including Benazir Bhutto Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and the four tehsil headquarters (THQ) hospitals.The Rs110 million worth MRI machine at HFH was installed in 2004.According to doctors, 100 patients on an average needed to undergo an MRI test daily. Each patient has to pay an average of Rs14,400 to Rs20,000 for a test at private hospitals while at the HFH they were charged between Rs3,000 and Rs5,000.“Doctors at BBH prescribed an MRI test for my daughter for her back injury, but there is no facility to conduct the test in any public hospital in the city,” said Mohammad Akram, a resident of Mitarpura. He said that he was working in a private organisation and cannot afford the costly test at any private hospital.

Minister says work on hospital aimed at turning it into model facility

He said government hospitals had lost their utility and doctors referred patients to private laboratories.Afzal Malik, the attendant of a patient, said that his father was suffering from pain in his left hand and after conducting tests, doctors suggested to get an MRI test. He said that he had no option but to take borrow from some relatives.On the other hand, doctors said that they had no option but to inform patients that MRI tests could not be conducted at the hospital.“There is no such facility here and we have to refer them to private hospitals,” said Dr Humyun Warriach, Young Doctors Association Rawalpindi chapter president while talking to Dawn.He said MRI was conducted for diagnosing head injuries, brain tumors and liver and spinal cord problems besides others.“The government has done nothing to install new MRI machines at BBH and DHQ hospital due to which patients are are suffering,” he said.When contacted, HFH Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Butt said that the hospital was undergoing renovation and reconstruction work and it was difficult to open the MRI machine.“We kept the machine in running condition in a secure room as per the standard operating procedure (SOP) but would not conduct any test and the district administration had been requested to secure the centre where MRI machine has been installed.”He said the machine cannot be shifted to any other place otherwise it would have been installed at BBH or DHQ hospital.

Model hospital

Meanwhile, Caretaker Minister for Primary and Secondary Health and Population Welfare Dr Jamal Nasir said the development work at the HFH was aimed to make it a model hospital.

He stated this while visiting the HFH and Red Crescent Hospital along with Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chatta.

The minister and commissioner were informed that development work had been started in the old and new blocks of the hospital.

The minister said in the light of the orders of the caretaker provincial government, the project will be completed within the stipulated period of three months. In this regard, he said, any kind of negligence will not be tolerated.

Dr Nasir said the repair and renovation of the hospital will improve medical facilities. Under the load-sharing plan, currently patients are being treated in other hospitals of the city. The commissioner said that the basic health facilities were being improved by the caretaker government.

Rawalpindi Medical University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umar, Coordinator Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Punjab Dr Ansar Ishaq, CEO District Health Authority Rawalpindi Dr Ijaz Ahmed and other officers from concerned departments were also present.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2023