A worrying negligence in medical device maintenance

THE failure to be certain regimen servicing and well timed repairs of important healthcare tools in general public hospitals adds to the out-of-pocket health and fitness expenditure of men and women while personal health care facilities make hefty gains capitalising on the problem. The Directorate Normal of Well being Services records clearly show that in 250 hospitals across the region, at minimum 3,500 vital medical devices are dysfunctional and involve upkeep or substitute. A modern review of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University has confirmed that 59 for each cent of upazila well being facilities deficiency X-ray products and services and 41 for every cent lack blood transfusion services. The study has also claimed that some 88.2 for each cent of upazila wellness complexes do not have ultrasonography facilities. Nine health-related university hospitals in divisional metropolitan areas and the National Institute of Most cancers Exploration and Medical center have 17 radiation equipment to present radiotherapy, but 11 of them are not in operation. In this sort of a predicament, sufferers are left with no preference but to go for personal sector diagnostic companies the fees of which are exorbitantly substantial. Physicians, far too, have complained that the absence of health care devices impacts healthcare service delivery as routine analysis of health conditions or serious situations is delayed.

Hospital authorities and the health and fitness solutions directorate general blame the lengthy bureaucratic procedures that it normally takes them to fix or replace the equipment. The specialized manager of the National Electro-Health care Products Routine maintenance Workshop claims that are doing the job to fix 1,000 dysfunctional devices by April, noting that the delay is mainly prompted by non-committal frame of mind of the suppliers toward repairs all through the guarantee interval. Gurus in wellness economics, having said that, blame the flawed procurement course of action and flag corruption in importing professional medical products. Some people, however, declare that hospital authorities are at periods deliberately negligent to maintenance problems as they have direct or oblique financial interest in non-public-sector diagnostic facilities and subsidised hospital solutions affect their business. The well being minister, too, has recently designed a remark about the shorter practical life of professional medical devices ordered for community hospitals whilst private-sector clinics or hospitals do not encounter these troubles. There are also instances when costly healthcare equipment turns into dysfunctional as they continue to be unused for months. The only X-ray machine at Kulaura Upazila Health and fitness Complex in Moulvibazar has been inoperative given that its installation about three many years back due to the fact of the scarcity of required human sources, depriving therapy-seekers from products and services.

It is unfortunate that the upkeep of lifestyle-preserving units that really should have been dealt with as an unexpected emergency general public health problem has remained unattended. Taking into consideration the sufferings of people and an increased out-of-pocket wellbeing expenditure, the overall health ministry have to revisit the plan for upkeep and substitution of health care machines. In so executing, it must look at modernising the routine maintenance system in accordance with the progression in health care technological know-how and be certain good schooling of Clinical Machines Upkeep Workshop officers. It really should also examine the allegations that a segment of clinic workers and non-public-sector diagnostic company vendors intentionally delay the process out of their profiteering passions.