KEM revamp heavy on patients’ pockets

Pay double for MRI & CT scan at private hospitals as KEM equipment are not working

KEM revamp heavy on patients' pockets

Pay double for MRI & CT scan at private hospitals as KEM equipment are not working

Patients are facing the heat as air conditioners (ACs) at the under-renovation KEM hospital have become dysfunctional, prompting the facility to shut its MRI and CT scan services.

With the hospital authorities not having made alternate arrangements, patients are left with no option but to shell out their hard-earned money at private MRI and CT scan centres.
u00a0

Patients at KEM hospital have no choice but to getu00a0 examination done from outside

According to the hospital authorities, the MRI machine cannot be used without an air conditioner.

Apart from the MRI, the CT scan machine has also been dismantled as an advanced machine is being installed in its place. The infrastructure is being prepared to house both the machines.

"We have to send our patients to nearby private MRI centres because the MRI facility is not working here. The cost of an MRI at KEM is just Rs 2,500 while they charge around Rs 5,000 outside," said a senior doctor.

KEM does nearly 30 MRI and over 100 CT scans on a daily basis.

According to the rulebook, an MRI machine cannot be used in the absence of an AC, as it requires lower temperature. The moment temperature crosses a particular mark the MRI shuts automatically.

Sources said that apart from the MRI and CT scan, the X-ray machine is also not working properly at the hospital.

There is a paucity of X-ray plates, which delays the process and people have to wait for at least a week to get an X-ray done.

The Other Side

Head of the radiology department Dr Hemant Deshmukh said, "The hospital is under renovation and the radiology department is installing a new CT scan machine which is just next to the MRI room. Because of the installation process the AC has to be shut.

The one near the MRI machine is not adequate, so we cannot run the machine continuously. But we are trying to make some alternative arrangements for emergency patients. We are doing the renovation and some inconvenience is bound to occur.
u00a0
As of now, we are referring the patient to nearby civic hospitals."

Contesting the claim that MRI and CT scan services were not at working in the facility, dean of KEM hospital Dr Sanjay Oak said, "We are doing CT scans for emergency cases in the trauma ward. According to my knowledge MRIs are being done at the hospital."

Costly Affair

MRI
PRIVATE: Rs 5,000
KEM: Rs 2,500

CT SCAN
PRIVATE: Rs 3,000
KEM: Rs 1,200