MRI test? Go to private centers, GMCH tells patients

With Rs 1.5 crore dues outstanding, Siemens Healthcare not maintaining MRI machine at the hospital

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Nov 14: There seems to be no end to the sufferings of patients at the Guwahati Medical College & Hospital.

In the latest hitch at the premier government health institute, the lone MRI (magnetic resonce imaging) machine has been lying defunct since November 6. And it appears that apart from the poor patients, no one else is concerned.

Sources in the hospital admitted that patients requiring MRI tests are being asked to conduct it at private diagnostics centers.

No one is sure as to when the MRI machine at the GMCH will be fixed.

It is learnt that the GMCH has an annual maintence contract of the MRI machine with Siemens Healthcare. But there is an outstanding amount of Rs 1.5 crore to be paid to the company, due to which the agreement is in limbo.

An MRI machine costs around Rs 5 crore.

The private centers charge about Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 for an MRI test, which is available at Rs 3,000 at the GMCH.

On an average, 1,800 to 2,000 patients visit the GMCH every day.

The hospital has been plagued with myriad infrastructural bottlenecks for years on end, despite tall claims by the State government. A few days back, the Health department removed Ramen Talukdar from the post of GMCH Superintendent and installed Dr Babul Bezbaruah in his place.