An MRI machine installed at the Outpatient Department of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka has been out of service since 3 March, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The scanner was mainly used for patients injured in accidents and for those scheduled to undergo neurosurgery. Its breakdown has caused serious difficulties for patients who require urgent diagnostic tests.
The spokesperson said that more than 25 MRI scans were conducted daily using this machine. However, since it stopped functioning, all examinations scheduled on it have been completely halted.
Although two other MRI scanners are still operating at the hospital, they are not sufficient to handle the large number of patients requiring scans.
As a result, patients who had already scheduled MRI appointments are being sent home without undergoing the tests. Hospital authorities have informed them that the examinations cannot be carried out due to the machine’s breakdown.
Meanwhile, patients who seek MRI scans at private hospitals have to pay between Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 120,000 for a single examination, placing a heavy financial burden on many people.
