X-ray available only in emergency cases

CHITRAL: X-ray facility in DHQ hospital Chitral is only available to patients of emergency ward while other patients are forced to visit private laboratories for the test as officials say the hospital lacks films and allied chemicals to cater to all the patients.

The residents said it was a troublesome act for an attendant to carry the patient to a private X-ray lab in the bazaar for test.

They said they were ready to pay additional fee for procurement of X-ray film and chemicals to avoid trouble of hiring cabs and going to private labs.

When contacted, medical superintendant of the hospital Dr Shamim admitted that the X-ray facility was available only to the patients of emergency ward as Rs1 million funds meant for procurement of X-ray films and allied materials had been diverted by the competent authority to coping with Covid-19 cases.–Zahiruddin