Imphal, September 19: Non-functioning of the X-ray machine in the State TB Hospital at Lei-Ingkhol has been causing lot of inconveniences to the patients of the hospital for the last many years.

Even if an X-ray machine was installed in the hospital, it has not been functioning due to low power voltage and lack of necessary films and chemicals for the last 15 years.

According to the patients of the Hospital, the room where the X-ray machine is being kept remained locked all the time inspite of the fact that a patient undergoing 6-month treatment course at the hospital needs to take X-ray test for atleast three times.

So the patients have to go to private clinic for the said purpose spending a minimum of Rs 250 per test.

Majority of the patients in the hospital are from families living below poverty line.

While some of them are driving rickshaws to earn money for undergoing the prescribed 6-month treatment course, many others are invalids who cannot get out of the bed all by themselves.

There are also many from far flung areas.

Even if the patients are being given free medicines and diet, they have to shell out their hard earned money for other purposes like taking X-ray test.

Talking to The Sangai Express in this connection, Superintendent of the Hospital H Binodkumar said that the Hospital authority is aware of the difficulties being faced by the patients due to non-functioning of the X-ray machine.

So efforts are being made with right earnest to make it functional at the earliest possible.

He further informed that in order to solve the problem low voltage, a transformer has been installed inside the campus of the hospital and necessary proposals for purchasing the required films and chemicals have been submitted to the Health Directorate.

The present State TB Hospital at Lei-Ingkhol was set up in 1962 under the National TB Control Programme of the Government of India.

The 100-bedded hospital, however, has been able to cater to the need of only 31 patients.

When contacted in connection with the non-functioning of the X-ray machine of the TB Hospital, the Director of the Health Directorate Th Suresh explained that the main reason for the non-functioning of the X-ray machine is shortage of power supply.

The X-ray machine can be made functional only if regular power supply is ensured, he said.

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