Other States - Rajasthan   

High Court orders probe into CT scan facility at SMS hospital

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, FEB. 24. The Rajasthan High Court today took cognizance of the CT scan machine in Sawai Man Singh Hospital here lying dysfunctional for some time - forcing the patients to go to private diagnostic centres - and ordered a police inquiry to ascertain if the apparatus was not being repaired deliberately to extend undue benefit to the private operators.

The lack of CT scan facility in SMS Hospital - the premier Government hospital in the State - came to light recently during the treatment of the famous polo player and scion of the erstwhile royal family of Jodhpur, Shivraj Singh, who had sustained serious head injuries and was taken in a critical condition from SMS to a private hospital here for the CT scan. He was later flown to Mumbai for specialised treatment.

A Division Bench of the High Court took cognizance of the CT scan machine lying out of order on the basis of newspaper reports and directed the Secretary, Medical Education, to appear in the court tomorrow and file an affidavit stating the reason why the inoperative equipment was not being set right. The Secretary was also directed to clarify whether the MRI test facility was available in SMS Hospital, and if not, why.

The Bench, comprising Justice Shiv Kumar Sharma and Justice K.S. Rathore, issuing notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, also directed the latter to initiate an inquiry by an officer of the rank of Superintendent of Police to find out if the failure to repair the machine was guided by an intent to ensure profits to the private laboratories and diagnostic centres.

"The inquiry will determine whether the carelessness on this front by the SMS Hospital administration amounts to criminal negligence, and if yes, who is responsible for this act," the three-page order observed. The court said the inquiry would include an investigation into the availability of MRI test facility in the hospital and the cost charged by private laboratories for both the CT scan and MRI test.

The Bench asked the DGP to complete the inquiry within the next 15 days. The state of affairs in SMS Hospital regarding the CT scan facility was brought to the court's notice by a lawyer, Sudhanshu Joshi, while the Additional Advocate General, Mohammed Rafiq, appeared on behalf of the State Government.

The issue of unusable condition of CT scan apparatus in SMS led to a public outcry, with the charge that it had caused delay and difficulty in Shivraj's treatment, and rocked the State Assembly early this week. The Opposition Congress members expressed concern over "mismanagement" in the hospital and affirmed that it was a matter of shame that the polo star had to be taken to a private hospital for the diagnostic test.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

`Provide equal opportunities to Dalits'
Vasundhara seeks Rs.500 cr. for rail projects
High Court orders probe into CT scan facility at SMS hospital

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu