Aadil Akbar
Handwara, Feb 1: The mechanical failure of the CT scan machine at the Associated District Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara, for the past two weeks severely impacted patient care, leaving patients with no choice but to seek services at private clinics.
Local residents have expressed strong resentment over the authorities’ failure to repair the machine despite the prolonged downtime. “The CT scan machine frequently develops technical glitches, forcing patients to look for alternatives. The existing machine is old and prone to breakdowns. I fail to understand why the authorities have not taken concrete steps to replace it with a new one,” said Tawseef Ahmad, a local resident.
Another resident voiced similar concerns, stating, “After the establishment of Government Medical College, we were hopeful of advanced medical facilities at the Associated District Hospital GMC Handwara. However, the ground reality is disappointing.”
Social activist Sheikh Jamsheed also criticized the authorities for their inaction, questioning why they have not yet repaired the machine. He further pointed out that several other machines at the hospital become defunct every two months. Appealing to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Health Minister, and Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, he urged them to address the issue at the earliest to prevent further inconvenience to patients.
Residents have demanded immediate intervention to either repair the existing CT scan machine or replace it with a new one to ensure uninterrupted medical services at GMC Handwara.
