Serious dearth of X-ray paper

Carol Aloysius

A severe shortage of certain sizes of X-ray paper, an essential equipment and machines used for X-rays at Sri Lanka’s premier General Hospital in Colombo, have seriously compromised the health of thousands of patients.

“We are badly in need of certain sizes of X-ray paper which are in constant demand. These include the largest size measuring 35X43 cms which we need for X-raying the abdomen which cannot be adequately covered with a smaller film, and the 35X35 cms X-ray paper which is also in high demand for chest X-rays.

These X-ray sheets have not been available for quite some time although there are several private companies that supply them. The main agent that used to distribute it to us says it hasn’t still received any stocks from abroad. One company promised us 200,000 films on loan but even this has not been forthcoming upto now”, a spokesman for the National Hospital told The Nation.

Hospital sources said that although the NHS still used the conventional (plain) method of X-rays, most private hospitals in the country, were now using Digital X-rays, because of their distinct advantages and health benefits, a spokesman for the Radiographer’s Department said.
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