DERA GHAZI KAHN: The shortage of biomedical engineers has plunged Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital of Ghazi Medical College into turmoil, with vital medical equipment like CT scans and X-ray machines remaining dysfunctional and in storage.

The dire situation not only affects local patients but also those from Balochistan, as the hospital serves as a primary medical facility for them.

Dawn learned that the hospital’s crisis stems from problematic standard operating procedures, which prevent local equipment repairs and necessitate sending them outside the district, causing unnecessary delays.

Doctors at the hospital demanded that the authorization of local repairs be allowed to the hospital authorities to mitigate this issue, as patients are currently compelled to seek X-rays and CT scans from private facilities.

Moreover, the persistent shortage of essential medicines, including insulin for diabetic patients, persists due to low budget allocations.

Furthermore, six mobile X-ray machines and the CT scan equipment are dysfunctional, exacerbating patient suffering. Additionally, a scarcity of X-ray and CT scan films intensifies challenges for medical staff and patients alike.

The root cause of the problem lies in the prolonged vacancy of four biomedical engineering positions, depriving the hospital of the expertise needed to maintain and repair medical equipment.

Medical Superintendent Dr Saima Batul said that budget releases every three months, rather than annually, hindering bulk medicine purchases. She said that once the drug testing laboratory completes its work, procured medicines will be available at the hospital.

She added that official letters have been dispatched to authorities for the appointment of biomedical engineers.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2024