Inaccessibility to CT Scans and MRIs Adds to Distress for Medical Treatment Seekers
The shutdown of the diagnostic centre at Aundh District Hospital (ADH) has left countless patients grappling with challenges in accessing critical medical services. With the facility closed for over a month, individuals in need of urgent CT (computed tomography) scans and MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) are facing immense difficulties.
Despite the appointment of a new agency tasked with establishing a replacement unit within six months, bureaucratic delays have prolonged the transition period, exacerbating the ordeal for patients in dire need of diagnostic services.
Recently, an 84-year-old woman suffering from a brain stroke was directed by doctors at ADH to undergo CT and MRI scans. However, her family was compelled to travel to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital (YCMH) as ADH’s diagnostic centre remained non-operational. The ordeal continued with lengthy wait times and subsequent delays in receiving test results, underscoring the impact of the closure on patient care.
For many patients seeking emergency treatment at ADH, the absence of diagnostic facilities has necessitated visits to overcrowded hospitals such as Sassoon Hospital, YCM Hospital, or PCMC-run Thergaon Hospital for essential CT scans and MRIs. This additional burden further compounds the distress faced by patients and their families.
In another instance, a 36-year-old woman requiring an abdominal MRI encountered a similar predicament when all appointment slots at YCMH were fully booked. Consequently, her family had to navigate through various hospitals in search of an available facility, highlighting the logistical challenges and hardships endured by patients.
Health activist Sharad Shetty lamented the situation, attributing the ongoing predicament to governmental failure in ensuring essential diagnostic services at ADH, recognized as a tertiary care facility.
The struggle extends beyond ADH, as patients also encounter extended waiting periods for diagnostic tests at hospitals like Sassoon General Hospital (SGH), where MRI appointments are delayed by over a week, and CT scan queues can span several hours.
Dr. Nagnath Yempalay, district civil surgeon, acknowledged the efforts to establish a new diagnostic unit but emphasized the need for immediate solutions to address the current crisis. Patients in need of CT scans and MRIs continue to be referred to other hospitals, underscoring the urgency for prompt resolution to alleviate the burden on patients and ensure timely access to essential healthcare services.
