Srinagar, Sep 28: Patients suffering from respiratory illnesses at the Chest Diseases Hospital, Dalgate, are facing prolonged delays in accessing specialised diagnostic services, with several key facilities reportedly remaining non-functional for months.
The Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) facility has reportedly been unavailable for nearly two months, while the Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) facility has remained non-functional for more than six months. The hospital’s CT scan facility has reportedly been out of service for nearly 10 months, while the Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) facility is also said to be unavailable.
For patients arriving at the hospital for diagnosis and follow-up of conditions such as asthma, COPD and interstitial lung diseases, the disruption has meant repeated visits, delays in investigations and, in some cases, referrals to private diagnostic centres.
“We come to a government hospital because we cannot afford expensive private tests. When we are told that the machine is not working and asked to go outside, the treatment becomes much more costly,” an attendant said.
Another patient said the problem was particularly difficult for people travelling from distant areas.
“We travel for hours to reach the hospital. If the test is not available, we either have to return without it or spend additional money elsewhere. For elderly and sick patients, repeated travel is very difficult,” the patient said.
The prolonged disruption of the CT scan facility has emerged as a major concern, particularly for critically ill patients who may require urgent imaging.
Although CT imaging may reportedly be available at another associated government hospital, attendants question the practicality of shifting seriously ill patients from CD Hospital for investigations.
Patients requiring oxygen support, continuous monitoring or ventilatory assistance cannot be moved like routine outpatients, they said, arguing that such transfers require appropriate transport, medical supervision and monitoring.
“If a critically ill patient needs a CT scan urgently, shifting the patient to another hospital can itself be a difficult process. A specialised chest hospital should ideally have a dependable CT facility for its admitted patients,” an attendant said.
The reported condition of the diagnostic facilities comes against the backdrop of a starred question raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly by Lal Chowk MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi regarding CD Hospital’s infrastructure and its proposed new building.
While acknowledging that the hospital is functioning from an old heritage building, the government maintained that medical treatment standards were a priority and that the necessary infrastructure requirements of the hospital were being maintained.
The prolonged non-availability of multiple diagnostic services has nevertheless raised questions among patients over whether the hospital’s actual operational status was adequately reflected in the government’s response.
The issue, patients said, is not whether equipment can occasionally develop technical faults but whether essential services can remain unavailable for several months without a clear restoration timeline.
The latest concerns also revive issues highlighted in an earlier report published on November 25, 2025, which had pointed to non-functioning PFT machines, allergy-testing systems, bronchoscopes and EBUS at the hospital.
The earlier report had also highlighted the absence of a functional lift, causing difficulties for elderly and severely breathless patients, including those requiring oxygen support.
Patients had then complained of being directed towards private facilities for investigations, increasing the financial burden on families.
The recurrence of equipment-related complaints has now prompted questions over whether previous deficiencies were fully resolved and whether adequate maintenance mechanisms are in place.
Medical Superintendent Dr Sameena Saba was contacted for her response regarding the status of the diagnostic facilities. She directed queries towards the hospital administration. During subsequent interaction, she acknowledged the issues raised but questioned the sources of the information and did not provide a detailed clarification on the duration of the disruptions or a restoration schedule.
Principal GMC Srinagar Prof Iffat Hassan Shah was also approached for comment, but no substantive clarification was provided.
Head of Department, Chest Diseases, Dr Khursheed Ahmad Dar said he was busy when contacted and subsequently did not respond to queries regarding the facilities.
MLA Sheikh Ahsan Ahmed Pardesi was also contacted after being briefed about the reported status of the diagnostic services. He said he was in a meeting and asked to be contacted later. Subsequent attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Patients are now seeking a clear account of the present status of PFT, DLCO, CT and EBUS, the reasons for the prolonged downtime and the timelines for restoration.
“We do not want promises. We want the machines to work when the doctor prescribes a test,” an attendant said.
For patients visiting a specialised respiratory hospital, timely diagnosis is an essential part of treatment. Their immediate demand is simple: functional diagnostic services and clear alternatives until every facility is restored.
