Bengaluru: Scanning machines at Kidwai remain non-functional even after weeks, patients suffer

Medical scanning machines at Kidwai hospital have been out of service for nearly three weeks, forcing patients to seek expensive alternatives at private diagnostic centers.

Kidwai, one of Karnataka’s premier cancer care centers, sees patients arriving from across the state. With the crucial scanning service non-functional, patients are left stranded, scrambling for appointments outside the hospital. While scans at Kidwai typically cost around ₹2,000, private centers charge up to ₹8,000, putting an additional financial burden on already distressed families.

Also read: Bengaluru Kidwai cleanup: Govt suspends ‘corrupt’ officer, acts on committee report to check malpractices

The scanning cost outside is four times more than Kidwai. Many patients can’t afford it and results in delayed treatment.

The temporary unavailability of scanning facilities has severely affected diagnosis and treatment timelines. Doctors noted that some patients experienced critical delays in beginning chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Hospital authorities must step in to assure that services would resume at full capacity at the earliest, and scanning charges continue to remain subsidized for patients under various health schemes. However, the incident has raised concerns about infrastructure maintenance in vital public healthcare institutions.