Ultrasound machines worth Rs 13.66 lakh gather dust

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Despite having five ultrasound machines, purchased over the past 10 years, the UT Health Department has failed to put them to optimal use at its various centres — two of these are lying non-functional for want of repair.

The Auditor General, in its latest report for 2013-14, has stated, “The department is least bothered about the inconvenience faced by patients as well as medical staff, besides blockade of expensive machines as these are not in use.”

Of the total five machines — two each at the Government Hospital in Mani Majra and at the GMSH-16, and one at the Government Health Centre in Sector 22. Only the two machines at the GMSH-16 are in working condition.

“The scrutiny of records of the 100-bedded Mani Majra Hospital revealed that an ultrasound machine has been lying defunct since 2010. No sincere efforts were made by the department to get the machine repaired. Another machine purchased in 2006 for Rs 6,83,000 has been lying defunct since October 2013,” stated the report.

The hospital, which mainly caters to gynaecology patients, is functioning without an ultrasound machine since October 2013 and patients are asked to get the tests conducted from the GMSH-16 or from other medical facilities.

Another machine purchased by the department in 2006 at the cost of Rs 6,83,000 was installed at the Poly Clinic-45. The machine was shifted to the labour room, GMSH-16, in 2013. It was repaired a year ago.

The failure to get the machines repaired has led to improper utilisation of two machines worth Rs 13,66,000.

In June last year, the machine catering to OPD patients at the GMSH-16 broke down and the centre remained closed for nearly one month.