PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
The ultrasound system at the city’s government-run BD Pandey District Hospital has once again come under critical scrutiny. Several patients, including a 60-year-old woman, who arrived for an ultrasound scan, were allegedly turned away without examination.
Notably, ultrasounds are performed on pregnant women at BD Pandey Hospital on Wednesdays. Furthermore, ultrasound scans are also available for other patients in case of emergency.
As complaints about women seeking ultrasound scans being turned away came to the fore, the State president of the Uttarakhand Asha Health Workers Union, Kamala Kunjwal visited the hospital and expressed her displeasure. “I wonder why the elderly woman was refused ultrasound scan. The authorities owe us an explanation,” she said.
A 60-year-old Kishani Devi, a resident of Nainital municipal council’s ward number seven went to the hospital for an ultrasound scan while suffering from stomach pain. She later alleged that the staff and radiologist had refused to perform the ultrasound test. “I didn’t even receive a token,” she stated.
Those who throng the facility for pathological and other tests echoed the anguish, saying that they often face the same treatment.
Prakash, a resident of Ramgarh, and Chandra, a resident of Bhumiyadhar, expressed concerns about the ultrasound system failing the patients. Reena, a resident of Tallital, said she had been visiting the hospital for several days to get an ultrasound scan, but had to return several times.
Dismissing the allegations, the hospital’s senior medical officer, Dr Draupadi Garbiyal said that ultrasound scans are performed on all patients who come to the hospital. “Sometimes, however, due to the high number of patients, not everyone can be examined on the same day,” she said, adding that ultrasounds are performed on a priority basis, depending on the emergency and the patient’s condition.
