Nahan Hospital lacks PET scanning equipment, cancer patients suffer

Dr Y S Parmar Medical College and Hospital at Nahan in Sirmaur district does not have a positron emission tomography (PET) machine, an important diagnostic tool for detecting cancer in the early stages, even eight years after its inception. Due to the lack of such equipment in the hospital, patients have to travel to places like Chandigarh or undergo PET scans at private hospitals at a high cost.

In private hospitals, a PET scan can cost anywhere from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000, while in government hospitals in other states it is available for around Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000. However, the additional costs of travel and accommodation make the test unaffordable for many, especially those from low-income families.

Nahan Medical College’s oncology department conducts about 80 outpatient consultations per month, and many cancer patients require PET scans to determine the extent and spread of the disease. Without a PET scanner in the hospital, patients face delays in getting a correct diagnosis, which can adversely affect treatment outcomes. Time-sensitive cancer cases require quick action, and the absence of this important tool forces patients to travel long distances, which delays diagnosis of the disease.

For many patients, the financial burden is enormous. While government institutions like PGI in Chandigarh offer PET scans at cheaper prices, private hospitals charge exorbitant fees for it. Dr Amitabh Jain, medical superintendent of Nahan Medical College, says he has raised the demand for a PET scan machine at the hospital with higher authorities. He has requested the necessary equipment, but the hospital has not yet received the PET scan machine. The hospital’s lack of a PET scanner has drawn criticism from both patients and medical professionals.