The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has demanded that the MRI and the CT Scan machines, which have been gathering dust at the Kalimpong District Hospital for more than a year now, be made functional at the earliest.

Kalimpong District Magistrate DrVishwanath unveiled a digital X-ray machine at hospital on 13 February, which was simultaneously inaugurated by chief minister Mamata Banerjee from Krishnagar in Nadia.

The other scanning machines are, however, still lying unused as hospital sources say they are yet to have a technician who can operate those highly sophisticated machines.

Many posters in and around Dambar Chowk in the town were seen on Friday that demanded that the hospital starte using the scanning machines soon for the benefit of the people.

It may be mentioned that the total cost of the machines is over Rs 12 crores, and the same was funded by the National Health Mission. “Such machines are brought for our benefit and the authorities concerned should appoint a qualified technician as soon as possible.

The poor people should reap benefits from the machines that cost crores of rupees,” the general secretary of the GNLF, Kalimpong branch, Lopsang Tamang, said.

A hospital source said that the machines, once operational, will allow patients to have their bodies scanned free of cost as the equipment has been installed as per the Public Private Partnership mode.

“All the patient requires is a (district hospital) doctor’s prescription, while the cost for the test will be reimbursed from the National Health Mission fund,” the source said.

“The unused MRI and CT scan machines should be used as soon as possible for the benefit of the poor,” read one GNLF poster on a wall. “Such expensive machines should not rot,” read another.

“GNLF demands immediate functioning of the MRI and CT scan machines at the Kalimpong District hospital,” said yet another. A senior official at the district hospital said the local authority can’t do anything when it comes to selecting a technician or an agent, as it is the state government which does so.

“The tender for selecting the agent started during the second week of February and closed on 21st February. The agency will be chosen soon, and the agency’s name will be made public in two-three weeks’ time,” the hospital source said.