Kailashahar,Anupam Pal,CT scanning is an essential component of advanced medical diagnostics. However, residents of North Tripura are currently facing serious difficulties as CT scan services at the only equipped facility in the region—Kailashahar District Hospital located in Bhagaban Nagar—have remained non-functional for the past two weeks.
According to sources, a private agency from Agartala, under the National Health Mission (NHM), had been providing free CT scan services at the hospital for a long time. But due to a mechanical fault, the machine broke down nearly a fortnight ago. Medical Superintendent Dr. Rohan Pal stated that he has already sent four letters to higher authorities informing them of the issue, yet no effective action has been taken so far.
The situation has reached a point where patients requiring urgent CT scans are being forced to travel either to Agartala or hospitals outside the state. This not only causes delays and increased suffering, but also imposes a heavy financial burden on low-income patients, who earlier could avail this service free of charge at the district hospital.
Experts believe the root of the delay in repairs lies in the government’s prolonged failure to clear outstanding dues owed to the private service provider. The negligence of NHM officials is being blamed for the ongoing crisis. Hospital sources also fear that the continued disruption may soon lead to unrest among patients and healthcare workers.
It is noteworthy that several services in state-run hospitals—such as 102 ambulance operations, pathology, and dialysis—are currently being operated through outsourcing. While most service providers are still doing their best to maintain operations, the non-payment of dues raises concerns that more such disruptions may occur in the near future.
The government must intervene immediately to restore CT scan services and ensure payment of outstanding bills to restore trust with outsourcing partners. Otherwise, the district’s healthcare infrastructure may face a serious breakdown.
