Around 30 percent of the CT scanners in government hospitals have broken down, the Government Radiological Technologists’ Association says.

There are 44 CT scan machines in government hospitals. They are in the emergency ward of the National Hospital in Colombo, hospitals in Kurunegala, Karapitiya, Trincomalee, Hambantota, Badulla, Ratnapura, Kalutara, Matara and Horana, the National Dental Hospital and the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Children’s Hospital in Kandy.

The Radiological Technologists’ Association said some of the machines had been out of order for months, and thousands of poor patients had been affected.

Government Medical Officers’ Association Media Spokesman Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe said doctors found it hard to diagnose certain diseases as the CT scanners had broken down.

Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardena told the media, in Colombo, that the Health Ministry had not received the necessary funding for the last two years and that had delayed repairing of the scanners.

“However, prompt measures will be taken to repair these machines within one month,” he added. (RK)