Shortage of X-ray films hit hospitals
By Don Asoka Wijewardena
All Ceylon Health Services Union (ACHSU) yesterday complained of a severe shortage of x-ray films in 55 main hospitals. Patients who were prescribed to have x-rays for fractures and lung, heart, kidney, stomach and brain diseases were the worst affected as doctors were not able to accurately diagnose their problems without x-ray.
Out of four kinds of x-ray film, two were out of stock. X-ray films such 35 – 45 and 35 – 35 were available in limited quantities, but due to their low quality x–ray technicians had to take more than one x-ray. X-ray films such 34 – 34 and 18 – 24 were not available, ACHSU General Secretary Gamini Kumarasinghe told a Media Conference held at ACHSU head office in Colombo.
Kumarasinghe pointed out that Colombo National Hospital was using about 600 x –ray films for a day. Patients who were suffering from various diseases were asked by doctors to undergo x-ray tests from outside. Several main hospitals run by the Health Ministry were without quality x-ray films.
The diagnosis of diseases by doctors was at stake. Most doctors had no alternative but to ask the patients to do relevant x-ray tests at private hospitals. The charges were horrendously expensive. Those who were well-off could do the tests, but poor patients had to suffer, ACHSU General Secretary said.
He said that the Health Ministry’s Procurement Unit, Technical Evaluation Unit and the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) were solely responsible for the shortage.
Kumarasinghe claimed that proper tender procedure was ignored by the health authorities because instant purchasing of drugs and x-ray films would be more advantageous to them. Most officials involved in purchasing of medical equipment, x-ray films and drugs were money motivated.
When contacted MSD Director Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe said that there had been a x-ray film shortage due to quality failure. Several stocks of x-ray films imported were found to be of low quality and required a longer to dry. The resultant pictures of human organs were not clear for doctors to diagnose.
He however said that the root cause for x-ray film shortage was that most countries were now using ‘Digital Cameras’ for diagnosis process instead of x-ray films. "Only a few countries continue to use x-ray films for diagnose purposes."
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena had held several discussions on the shortage. The Health Ministry was now considering the use of "Digital Cameras’ in Sri Lanka too, but it would be very costly, he said.
He noted that only three companies were supplying x-ray films to Sri Lanka. The production of x-ray films was limited due to drop in demand for them worldwide.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=44243
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