Sultanganj: Lack of Facilities at Newly Built Community Health Centre; X-Ray Machine Remains Non-Functional
Sultanganj (Bhagalpur): The tall claims regarding the expansion of healthcare facilities at the newly constructed Community Health Centre (CHC) in Sultanganj appear to be falling flat. Built at a cost of several crores, this state-of-the-art facility was promised to provide modern health services to the public. However, since its inauguration, the core equipment remains nothing more than a "showpiece." Most notably, the X-ray machine, despite being installed, has not been made operational to this day.
Increased Financial Burden on Patients
The failure to operationalize the X-ray machine is causing immense hardship for poor patients arriving from Sultanganj and surrounding rural areas. Patients visiting the hospital are forced to depend on private diagnostic centers outside for basic check-ups, such as minor injuries or fractures. While on one hand, the government promises free healthcare, on the other, patients are compelled to spend substantial sums at private centers despite the machine being present within the hospital premises.
Local residents state that when they visit the hospital for treatment, doctors simply provide a prescription and direct them to outside centers for tests. The lack of X-ray facilities not only leads to a waste of time but also places an additional financial burden on economically weaker sections of society.
Technical Glitches or Administrative Negligence?
The inactivity of the X-ray machine at the CHC is widely attributed to gross administrative negligence rather than any major technical hurdle. According to sources, while the machine has been installed, a qualified technician (Radiologist/Technician) has not been appointed to operate it. Furthermore, no concrete efforts are being made at the departmental level to address other minor technical improvements or power connectivity issues.
The silence of the hospital administration has further fueled public anger. People are questioning why the machine was brought and "dumped" in the hospital if there was no intention to make it functional.
Questions Over the Functioning of the Health Department
The very purpose of the newly constructed building was to ensure that patients would no longer have to run to the city for medical care. However, instead of improvements, the situation remains unchanged. Locals have alleged that senior health department officials have been informed about this problem multiple times, but to date, no one has deemed it necessary to take action. Along with the X-ray machine, other pathological testing facilities are also not running smoothly, raising questions about the overall efficiency of the entire hospital complex.
The state of the Sultanganj Community Health Centre exposes the reality behind the claims of a "revamped healthcare system." The question remains: when will this cycle of playing with patients' health come to an end? If the machine is not made operational soon, locals are threatening to launch a major protest. Senior health department officials must take immediate cognizance of this matter, ensure the appointment of a technician, and inspect the machine to make it functional, providing much-needed relief to the general public.
