X-Ray machine at Pipladi health post remains unused for six years due to lack of skilled manpower

Kanchanpur: The X-ray machine at the Pipladi Health Post in Shuklaphanta Municipality-4 of Kanchanpur has remained unused for six years due to a lack of skilled technical manpower.

The machine, provided by the Sudurpaschim Province government, has not been operational, forcing patients to rely on private health institutions and pay higher fees for X-ray services.

“We purchased a printing machine for the X-ray unit only last year and are managing the darkroom, but we still need a radiologist to operate the service,” said Durga Dutta Bhatta, head of the health post.

Paramananda Bhatta, chief of the municipality’s health branch, stated that a radiologist at the deputy sub-division level and other skilled technical personnel are essential to run the service. “Managing such manpower at the local level has been challenging, delaying the operation of the service,” he said.

Similarly, although an ultrasound machine is available at the health post, it has not been fully operational due to the same issue of insufficient skilled manpower. The municipality, however, has arranged a doctor at the health post using its internal resources to ensure basic medical services.