CT scan machine defunct after 4 years in open, 2 officials suspended

Dehradun: A CT scan machine at the district hospital in Pauri has become “non-functional” after being left exposed in the open for four years, prompting the Uttarakhand health department to suspend the hospital’s former chief medical superintendent following a preliminary inquiry that found “negligence”. The former chief medical officer of Pauri has also been suspended pending the final outcome of the investigation, officials said.Installed in 2022, the machine remained “unused and unprotected," resulting in “complete damage” instead of being deployed for public healthcare services, the inquiry report noted. Although it was meant to be handed over to the medical education department, it was instead kept outside. The issue came to light following a departmental inspection in Feb, with local residents also raising concerns over the non-use of the CT scan facility despite its availability.The hospital was operating under a public-private partnership arrangement with a private hospital-cum-medical college in Dehradun. On Monday, the hospital’s management committee was issued a show-cause notice for alleged negligence and dereliction of duty, and has been given three days to respond.The suspension order and show-cause notice were issued by Sachin Kurve on the directions of health minister Subodh Uniyal.