The cost of repairs of the lone sonography machine at the Ulhasnagar government hospital was quoted at Rs 5.06 lakh when the machine itself was bought for Rs 5.50 lakh,the Legislative Assembly was told on Thursday.
As the House discussed a question raised by independent MLA from Kalyan (East) Ganpat Kalu Gaikwad on the delay in getting the machine repaired,the Minister of State for Health Fauziya Khan admitted that the machine had been out of order since December 9,2010. She pointed out that the engineer of the supplier company had quoted Rs 5.06 lakh as the cost of repairs. Subsequently,a letter was written by the hospital authorities to the Health Department for funds.
She said the machine was bought for Rs 5.50 lakh and added that the machine had been repaired locally for Rs 75,500 and was in a working condition. Another sonography machine would be bought for the hospital to meet the patient load,she said.
The issue prompted many members to point at the unhealthy condition of district hospitals in their constituencies. The grievances ranged from lack of medicines and equipment to shortage of doctors.
Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil said a meeting of legislators and the Health Minister Suresh Shetty would be organised to improve the condition of government hospitals.
