Nahan hospital lacks PET scan facility, cancer patients suffer

Dr YS Parmar Medical College and Hospital at Nahan in Sirmaur district does not have the positron emission tomography (PET) scan machine, an essential diagnostic tool for detecting cancer in its early stages, even eight years after its establishment. In the absence of this facility in the hospital, patients have to travel to places like Chandigarh or get PET scans done at private hospitals at high charges.

In private hospitals, a PET scan can cost between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000, while in government hospitals in other states, it is available for around Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000. However, additional travel and accommodation expenses make the test unaffordable for many, particularly those from low-income families.

The Oncology Department at Nahan medical college does around 80 outpatient consultations per month and many of the cancer patients require PET scans to determine the extent and spread of the disease. Without a PET scan machine at the hospital, patients face delays in having proper diagnosis, which can badly impact their treatment outcomes. Time-sensitive cancer cases require prompt action and the absence of this essential facility forces patients to travel long distances, delaying the diagnosis of the disease.

For many patients, the financial strain is immense. While government institutions like the PGI in Chandigarh offer a PET scan at lower rates, private hospitals charge exorbitant fees for it. Dr Amitabh Jain, Medical Superintendent of Nahan medical college, says that he has raised the requirement of a PET scan machine at the hospital with the higher authorities. He has made requests for necessary equipment but the hospital is yet to get a PET scan machine. The lack of a PET scan machine at the hospital has drawn criticism from both patients and healthcare professionals.