KARACHI, May 16: The inability of the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre administration to arrange funds required to replace an essential component of the laser machine installed at its ENT department is adding to the misery of patients, mainly children suffering from Papilloma (tumour in respiratory tract), for the last two years.

Moreover, since the JPMC director himself is not authorized to procure any needed gadget in his independent capacity, the matter might be delayed further.

Guardians of some of the child patients, mainly from the interior of Sindh as well as Balochistan, said that since the equipment is not available in any other hospital of the two provinces, they have to come all the way to Karachi for therapy.

“The situation, however, has turned all the more grim for us as the functioning of the machine has been halted for the last many months,” Khairuddin from Dharki said, mentioning that there is also no clue as to when the service would again be made available.

A probe revealed that the machine was procured sometime in 1988, at a cost of Rs4.5 million and was used quite judiciously which enhanced its life.

However, it was only when one of its main module (a tube) turned hackneyed that the functioning of the gadget was stalled for want of replacement of the tube and against an estimated cost of Rs1.2 million, sources said. But due to budgetary constraints, it is difficult to expect the institute to arrange the same on its own, they added.

In the given situation, local philanthropists appear to be the only source of hope to generate funds for either procuring the worn-out part or to arrange the purchase of a new machine of the latest model.

The estimated cost of the latest model, reported to have no hassle of attachments or parts, comes to Rs2 to Rs2.2 million.

Apart from being used to treat Papilloma cases, the machine is also used to remove tumours within the mouth and sub-mucous membrane, noticed quite increasingly among many of the some 500 patients visiting the OPD and ENT departments everyday.

The laser machine is considered to be quite cost effective as well as safe, since it causes little blood loss, is painless and also shortens the patients’ stay at hospitals.

It’s conscientious and meticulous application by adequately- trained professionals is also a prerequisite to avoid any mishap. —APP