Plea to establish MRI scan facilities in Government District Headquarters Hospitals

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered notice to the State government on a public interest litigation petition that sought a direction to the government to establish MRI scan facilities in Government District Headquarters Hospitals.

A Division Bench of Justices Anita Sumanth and C. Kumarappan was hearing the petition filed by activist C. Anand Raj of Madurai. The petitioner said in 2017, the High Court had passed an order directing the State to establish MRI scan facilities in Government District Headquarters Hospitals across the State.

He said despite the court order, the State had failed to establish MRI scan facilities in Government District Headquarters Hospitals in Usilampatti in Madurai district, Periyakulam in Theni district, Kumbakonam in Thanjavur district, Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district, Aranthangi in Pudukkottai district, Manapparai in Tiruchi district, Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district, Karaikudi in Sivaganga district and Padmanabhapuram in Kanniyakumari district.

Following the court order, MRI scan facilities had been established in Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Tenkasi Government District Headquarters Hospitals, he said.

Due to the delay in establishing MRI scan facilities, the patients were unable to get the scan done at the right time which in turn delayed their further medical treatment. Patients had to travel several kilometres for MRI scan. Patients from humble backgrounds were put to much hardship. This had also led to overcrowding at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, he said.

He said he had made a representation to the authorities to establish MRI scan facilities at the Government District Headquarters Hospitals. However, he did not get a reply from the authorities. The court posted the matter for hearing to December 5.