Lone MRI machine at RMCH out of order

RANGPUR, Sept 02: Sufferings of the patients have mounted as the lone MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine at Rangpur Medical College Hospital (RMCH) has remained inoperative for over one month.
The hospital's only MRI machine has been out of order due to low voltage caused by shutdown of Barapukuria power plant, hospital sources said.
According to sources the operation of Barapukura coal-based thermal power plant in Dinajpur has remained stopped since July last on account of severe scarcity of coal, causing power cuts and low voltage in the northern region of the country especially eight districts under Rangpur division.
The patients admitted to the hospital are counting extra costs to undergo MRI scans at private diagnostic centres outside the hospital, it is alleged.
Every day, around 15 to 25 patients are advised to undergo MRI, said some employees at the Imaging Department of RMCH. The test is very vital, but they cannot render service to the patients, they added.
The cost for MRI scan at the hospital is Tk 3,000 whereas it is Tk 6000 to Tk 7000 in private clinics or diagnostic centres, sources alleged.
Apart from the patients of Rangpur district, serious patients from neighbouring districts such as Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Gaibandha are also referred to the hospital for MRI. But because of non-availability of the facilities they have to suffer a lot, sources informed.
In this situation brokers of the clinics are forcing patients at RMCH to shift to their chosen clinics, patients alleged.
Ataur Rahman, a resident of Palichara area of Rangpur Sadar said his father was admitted to the RMCH in a critical condition last week and he needed MRI scan. He had to take him outside the hospital pushing a trolley himself.
He was harassed by the brokers as they compelled him to go to their chosen diagnostic centres, he further said.
The poor people of the region said that the hospital must provide all-out treatment facilities for the patients. The hospital authorities should take necessary steps immediately in order to ease their sufferings, they added.
Director of RMCH, Ajoy Kumar Roy said owing to low voltage the only MRI machine of the hospital has remained non-functional for over last one month. They are trying to make the machine functional as early as possible by setting up a separate transformer for it, he added.
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