Faulty CT scan machine in Keningau Hospital leaves patients in a bind

KOTA KINABALU: Patients needing computerised tomography (CT) scans in interior Keningau district are facing difficulties getting these services after the machine at the Keningau Hospital malfunctioned months ago.

According to some patients, they have been asked to go to Kota Kinabalu, which is about 130km away, for their CT scan but not many of them are familiar with the place.

Many also say that at their age, travelling such a distance is troublesome for them and their families who have to take leave to bring them to Kota Kinabalu just to get their scan.

A 80-year-old woman who has a disabled son said going to Kota Kinabalu for the scan makes her think twice about making the trip.

"This is because apart from the travelling expenses, I also have to bring my adult disabled son which makes it even more difficult for me because I am not well and now I have to bring my son along which adds more stress for me," she said.

She said her appointment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to scan for suspected cancer has been set at the end of October.

She hopes the government will look into this problem as soon as possible, as there are many patients like her who desperately need easy access to CT scan services.

Sabah Health and People's Wellbeing minister Datuk Frankie Poon said the new CT scan should be installed by end of October.

"From what I am made to understand, only patients with urgent cases will have their scans done by a private facility in Keningau, while non-urgent cases will be referred to the hospital in Kota Kinabalu," he said.

He said patients who are required to go to Kota Kinabalu will have the option of going using the hospital's transport or on their own.- Star