Four years on, Hathin govt ultrasound facility continues to await a radiologist

Bijendra Ahlawat

Palwal, July 7

The ultrasound equipment installed at the government hospital at Hathin subdivision is lying unused due to the lack of trained staff and doctors. The ultrasound facility was inaugurated about four years ago, but no ultrasonologist or radiologist has been posted here to handle the equipment, according to sources in the Health Department.

No sanctioned post

• Officials say while there is no sanctioned post for any specialist like radiologist or ultrasonologist in the district, medical officers become eligible to handle services like ultrasound after an internal training of six months.
• A gynaecologist posted at the local hospital was handling the ultrasound facility on a part-time basis. However, the work has been suspended as the doctor concerned is on leave.

The facility is temporarily unavailable as the gynaecologist is on maternity leave for the past four months. The facility is likely to be resumed as soon as she rejoins duty. — Dr Ajay Mam, Deputy CMO, palwal

It is claimed that a gynaecologist posted at the local hospital was handling the facility on a part-time basis. However, the work has been suspended as the doctor concerned is on leave.

One of the employees stressed that the ultrasound testing facility was a basic necessity in cases pertaining to pregnant women.

“In the absence of a functional ultrasound facility, patients have no option than to approach private hospitals and clinics and pay exorbitant charges, which are almost unaffordable for many,” says Gajraj, a local resident.

Another resident Mohammed Haroon said, “The hospital here was also facing other issues, including the lack of specialists, medicines and pathological facilities.”

Additionally, private hospitals and clinics often fleece patients from poor and rural background taking advantage of the government hospital.

Officials of the Health Department say while there is no officially sanctioned post for any specialist like radiologist or ultrasonologist in the district, medical officers (MO) become eligible to handle services like ultrasound after an internal training of six months. Although the department has a total of five posts of gynaecologist, two of these are currently on maternity leave.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ajay Mam claimed that the facility was temporarily unavailable as the gynaecologist was on maternity leave for the past four months. The facility was likely to be resumed as soon as she rejoined duty, the Deputy CMO added.