Sri Vijayapuram: In a strong appeal to the Ministry of Health, Government of India, Mr. Rakeshwar Lall, State President of Hindu Rashtra Shakti, has raised critical concerns regarding the lack of essential diagnostic services at the Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Sri Vijayapuram — the region’s primary government healthcare facility.
In a formal communication addressed to the Minister for Health, Mr. Lall has urged for the early installation of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine and the posting of a full-time ECG technician at the hospital.
He emphasized that the absence of an in-house MRI facility is causing undue hardship, especially for economically weaker sections. Over 50 patients per month are currently being referred for MRI scans, either to private diagnostic centers or to INHS Dhanvantari, where delays and long waiting periods significantly impact timely diagnosis and treatment.
Furthermore, the lack of 24×7 ECG technician services is leading to serious lapses in emergency cardiac care. Family members are reportedly forced to transport technicians during medical emergencies—an unsafe and unacceptable practice.
Mr. Lall appealed to the central government to:
• Expedite funding and procurement of a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine for GB Pant Hospital.
• Deploy a regular, qualified ECG technician to ensure uninterrupted round-the-clock cardiac diagnostic services.
• He asserted that addressing these long-standing issues would substantially improve public health outcomes and ensure equitable access to healthcare for island residents.
The appeal calls for the personal intervention of the Health Minister to prioritise and resolve this urgent matter.
