WE THE PEOPLE
SKIMS's Radiology Department presents scene of pessimism and optimism, needs restructuring
Hence people urge Director SKIMS to improve its functional mechanism to avoid fleecing of patients at Private Clinics
By: Rameez Makhdoomi
Srinagar: The Department of Radiology, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical science (SKIMS) provides services like comprehensive inpatient and outpatient diagnostics. Imaging techniques available include state-of-the-art computed radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and mammography The department is as such the lone source of treatment to the majority of populace living in valley; as treatment and diagnosis from private clinics is economically un-affordable for the majority.
While analyzing the situation from ground zero, the concerned department offers a mix bag of dejection and optimism as patients have both positivity and pessimism to share. Farooq Ahmad, a patient said, "The facilities and overall set-up of the department has improved but there are still some gray areas which one needs to reflect upon. First and far most for conducting tests distant dates are given to patients and test reports come very late.
Abdul Rashid, a patient said, "When distant dates are given for conducting tests and test reports are submitted very late one is forced to go to private clinics and there are some tests that one has to carry out at private clinics. .The department needs to do a lot to improve, as submitting reports on time and conducting all tests and diagnosis here only should form the priority, but at present that is not the case.
Sharafat Ali, a patient attendant said, "Our patient required some emergency tests, but he too was given a distant date as a result we were literally forced to conduct these tests at private clinics and money charged by these clinics has put us under great financial stress and strain. The wait we were asked to afford would have proved quite excruciating and dangerous for our patient .One thing is sure that the prolonged stay of our patient in the hospital before the surgery and prescribed tests will, however, make a good business for several doctors at this premier institute, who allegedly make money by diverting patients to particular private testing centers for expensive tests." .But there are likes of Jameshad Ahmad and Maqbool who are quiet satisfied with the prevailing situation. "I have a chronic health problem and have been a frequent visitor to this department. I think the department has improved quite a lot,"said Jamshed Ahmad, a patient.
"Although it is quite true that reports of tests are provided late and distant dates are given for conducting tests, but one has to understand the tremendous pressure on this department, as it is the lone source of treatment for the bulk of population of the valley. From that viewpoint the status and performance of department is satisfactory, though far from being convenient and desirable," Said Syed Maqbool, patient attendant.
While responding to the observations made by patients, Dr Tariq Gojwari, Head of the institute's Radiology Department, while talking to this correspondent of Mirror of Kashmir said, "The department of Radiology of SKIMS is at par with the Radiology Departments of premier institutes of the country. As far as these complaints are concerned; I would like to say that in submitting some test reports delay is caused as they require minute observations. We do not refer any patient to private clinics as such. I do recognize that there is a great scope for improvement, as we require more manpower and machinery to meet the heavy flow of patients and one has to understand that in departments like Radiology, technology changes with every passing day."
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