Most of the upazila health complexes in the district cannot take X-ray of the patients as the machines have remained dysfunctional for years due to various reasons.

The X-ray machine of Gangachara Upazila Health Complex has become dysfunctional as it remained unused for years after its installation in 1999, said Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Rafiqul Islam.

“We refer patients to Rangpur Medical College Hospital or private laboratories if they need examination by X-ray machine,” he said.

Central Medical Store (CMS) under the Ministry of Health installed the X-ray machine at the health complex in December 1999 at a cost of about Tk 50 lakh but it could not be used due to lack of operator.

District civil surgeon's office arranged recruitment of an X-ray operator at the upazila health complex in September 2004.

“I could not operate the machine for a single day as there was no film at the hospital,” said Meherunnesa, X-ray machine operator of Gangachara Upazila Health Complex.

When CMS supplied X-ray films to Gangachara Upazila Health Complex in 2007, the X-ray machine was found dysfunctional, she said.

The X-ray machine of Pirgachha Upazila Health Complex has remained inoperative since 2007, said Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Shawkot Hossain.

A technician from CMS in Dhaka, who came to the health complex a few months ago, declared that the machine went out of order for

good, Dr Shawkot said.

Earlier the machine remained unused for long due to lack of X-ray films at the health complex.

Baderganj Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abdul Baki Sarker said, "The X-ray machine at the upazila health complex remained inactive for two years. It was repaired 15 days ago but trouble remains. We cannot get photo of waist and backbone with the X-ray machine.”

Sources at Taraganj Upazila Health Complex said its X-ray machine had remained inoperative for four years from 2006. It is still unfit for operation despite recent repair.

The X-ray machine at Pirganj Upazila Health

Complex often fails to function properly.

Kept unused for about three years due to lack of film at the health complex, the X-ray machine got troubles and cannot give proper service, said a doctor at the health complex seeking anonymity.

A functional X-ray machine is very much essential as Pirganj Upazila Health Complex has been upgraded to a 50-bed hospital recently, he said.

There are allegations that the authorities of the upazila health complexes intentionally kept the X-ray machines unused on the plea to troubles and lack of X-ray films as patients are often referred to private laboratories in Rangpur town in exchange of 'commission'.