Kataka: The digital X-ray machine at Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer (AHPGIC) has remained out of order for the past three months, causing considerable inconvenience to patients.
Despite repeated reminders from the hospital authorities, the agency that supplied the machine has shown little interest in repairing it. In the absence of the digital machine, patients are being examined using the hospital’s portable X-ray machines.
However, these machines do not produce sufficiently clear images, making it difficult for doctors to diagnose diseases accurately. Meanwhile, the Odisha State Medical Corporation Limited (OSMCL) has approved another digital X-ray machine for the cancer centre, which is expected to be supplied by the end of this month.
According to sources, around 450 patients visit the outpatient departments across the centre’s seven departments every day, while about 100 patients are admitted to its inpatient wards. X-ray examinations are required before surgery, chemotherapy and cancer diagnosis.
Doctors in the radiation oncology department refer the largest number of patients for X-ray examinations. These tests are conducted in the radiology department, which has three X-ray machines — one digital and two portable units.
While the portable machines have a capacity of 100 mA, the digital machine has a capacity of 300 mA, enabling it to produce clearer images. The breakdown of the digital machine has therefore affected patient care, with doctors facing difficulties in making accurate diagnoses.
Hospital superintendent Professor Niharika Panda said the agency that supplied the machine had not shown the required interest in repairing it despite repeated requests.
She added that OSMCL would provide another digital X-ray machine to the cancer centre shortly, offering some relief to patients.