Editor,
I am writing to draw your attention to a critical issue in our state’s healthcare delivery system at the TRIHMS, the lone tertiary medical institution in Arunachal Pradesh. Currently, the TRIHMS is equipped with only one MRI machine – a situation that has resulted in unacceptable delays of three to four months for essential MRI diagnostic services.
The protracted waiting period forces patients, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to seek costly alternatives in private clinics, where MRI tests range between Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000. For many underprivileged individuals, these exorbitant fees present an insurmountable barrier to accessing critical diagnostic care. In a system designed to serve all sections of society equitably, such delays and cost constraints are indefensible.
I must also share a personal experience that underscores the gravity of this situation. Suffering from severe lower back pain, I was advised by my physician to undergo a full-spine MRI scan. Regrettably, due to the extended waiting period at the TRIHMS and the prohibitive cost of private services, I was compelled to leave Itanagar without the necessary diagnostic evaluation. This unfortunate episode is indicative of the systemic deficiencies currently plaguing the TRIHMS, largely stemming from poor management practices perhaps, or lack of necessary funds, which the stakeholders would know better.
As such, it is pertinent that the TRIHMS must be equipped with sufficient MRI machines at the earliest to deliver required healthcare, especially to those who cannot afford to go to other states for basic healthcare.
Riba,
Daporijo