Four years on, Noida’s sole govt hospital awaits MRI, CT scan, laser machines

The hospital administration said that despite their repeated requests over the last nine months to the Noida Authority, which regulates the hospital, their demands have not been met.

Chief Medical Superintendent Dr R N P Mishra wrote to the Noida Authority on August 19, 2014, requesting a YAG laser machine for effective cataract operations. The machine costs around Rs 1 crore. The letter states that the hospital performs a large number of cataract operations “but there is sharp decrease in vision (in those who have been operated on) in 6-18 months after operation, due to posterior capsular opacity… and that cataract patients require capsulotomy by Yag Laser.”

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The letter goes on to state that the same machine is available in Delhi and “even” in district hospitals in Ghaziabad. “In the interest of poor and needy patients, please fulfill the demands,” the letter stated.

According to Dr Mishra, around 20 patients undergo cataract operation in a day in the hospital.

The situation in the Pathology department is worse, authorities said. The hospital needs a fully-automated bio-chemistry analyser, urine analyser, digital microscope, fully-automated five part haematology cell counter and fumigator among other equipment.

The administration first placed the request on July 5, 2014 and then sent a reminder on November 27, 2014. Yet another reminder was sent on January 12 this year. However, officials said no reply has been received. “We understand that time taken is generally long as various tendering, re-tendering processes are involved and the Authority is conducting multiple checks from their end. However, we need the equipment urgently,” Mishra said.

Mishra said that various accident-related cases — where it is an imperative to know the extent of internal injuries — are rejected because of the lack of MRI and CT scan machines. “The delay is causing great trouble for patients. Around 10 per cent of the patients are referred to private hospitals in Noida or government hospitals in Delhi due to lack of machines,” Mishra said.

When contacted, additional chief executive officer (ACEO) of the Noida Authority, V K Panwar, said that the hospital administration had made the requests to a different ACEO, Akilesh Singh. He was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.

“The MRI and CT scan machines that the hospital requested were of a particular company which were not of the standard required. So, we asked the administration to consult private hospitals and find out about the different machines available in the market.” However, Panwar was unable to justify the delay in meeting the demands of hospital.

Panwar also accused Mishra of not being proactive in asking for their demands. “He just sits in his office and writes letters to officials. He should ideally send the letters to Noida Authority CEO Rama Raman.”

The hospital is also facing a staff crunch with only 80 beds and 32 permanent doctors.

“Noida has only one government hospital and we see almost 4,000 patients in our OPDs each day. We have an urgent requirement of 10 more doctors in the Gynaecology department as it is operational 24 hours,” Mishra said.

(The reporter is a student of EXIMS)