Radiocontrast film shortage stalls diagnosis at govt hospitals

Express Tribune

15-06-2025

In Punjab's government hospitals, there are significant challenges in accessing essential imaging services such as X-ray, ultrasound, MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and CT (Computed Tomography) scan, despite official claims of free medicines and treatment facilities.
Although government hospitals claim to provide immediate access to X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, and CT scan services in emergency situations, routine patients, on the other hand, often face long waiting times due to overcrowding. This is in spite of the fact that each quarter, the government disburses billions of rupees to hospitals in Lahore, including the Mayo, General, Services, Jinnah, and Guru Nanak Dev hospitals, to support medical facilities.
Abdul Rehman, a resident of Lahore, shared his experience at the Services Hospital, where his brother was taken after an accident. After receiving medical attention in the emergency department, his family encountered a troubling situation when they sought a CT scan and X-ray.
'When I brought my brother to the radiology department, the technician told me that I should take a picture of the reports with my mobile phone since films were not available. I am a poor man, and I do not own a smartphone with a good-quality camera. Eventually I had to sought help from someone else to capture the images, which were then shown to the doctor. Similarly, the X-ray image was simply printed on plain paper,' said Rehman.
According to the Health Department, government hospitals across Punjab are grappling with severe financial challenges. Although the Punjab government recently released additional funds worth Rs2 billion to support hospital operations, the issues plaguing the healthcare system persist. In recent years, the government has upgraded hospital infrastructure, renovated buildings, and increased annual budgets however, the rapidly growing population has led to a surge in the influx of patients, placing immense pressure on public healthcare facilities.
Public health expert, Dr Muhammad Ajmal, highlighted the fact the increasing population in the country necessitated the construction of more hospitals. 'Currently, the situation has become such that X-ray, MRI and CT scan films are not available, due to which patients have to take photos on their phones. Doctors check reports on their phones, and this practice is becoming a part of their routine. At present, resources are scarce, but doctors are doing their job within these resources. More hospitals should be built and the number of radiological machines should also be increased,' said Dr Ajmal.
At the same time, it is also worth emphasizing that private-sector healthcare has become increasingly unaffordable for many citizens. Over the past three years, the prices of medical supplies have skyrocketed, but the budget allocation for government hospitals has not kept pace. Despite government funding, the gap remains unfilled. Similarly, the prices of imported X-ray, MRI, and CT scan films have increased significantly due to the rise in the dollar's value, much like the raw materials for medicines. Although medicines are being provided, shortages are still observed.
Sources have reported that the budget allocations for government hospitals are determined based on the number of beds each facility has. For instance, the Mayo Hospital, which has 2,484 beds, receives an annual allocation of Rs3.3 million per bed. However, other hospitals in Lahore reportedly receive a higher per-bed allocation.
The correspondent tried contacting the Provincial Health Minister Salman Rafiq however, the official was unable to comment on the matter.