Why Patients at Delhi’s Lok Nayak Hospital Are Waiting Until 2028 for Scans

Delhi’s Lok Nayak Hospital (LNH) is facing a severe crisis as outpatient MRI and CT scan services remain suspended for over a week. Patients are being given appointments as far ahead as 2028, with only trauma and inpatient cases receiving priority. The unprecedented delays have left patients and their families frustrated and anxious.

According to a Hindustan Times report, outpatient MRI and CT scan services at Lok Nayak Hospital were first suspended on September 23. On September 30, the hospital’s radiodiagnosis department alerted the medical director about a critical issue with the CT and MRI systems, which led to the immediate suspension of these essential diagnostic services. The report highlights growing concerns among patients over long delays and limited access to scans at the government facility.

According to HT reporting, new MRI appointments at LNH are being scheduled as far ahead as 2028. For example, Khushboo, an eight-year-old with severe headaches and fainting spells, received an urgent MRI referral but was given an appointment for November 12, 2028. Similarly, Monu, a gig worker, was given an appointment for his wife, a cancer patient with a spinal injury, for November 11, 2028.

Such extended wait times are causing distress among patients and families, especially those who cannot afford private diagnostics, where MRI and CT scans typically cost between ₹8,000 and ₹15,000 per scan.

Out of the 36 hospitals run by the Delhi government, only three including Lok Nayak Hospital, are equipped with MRI facilities.

Sources from within the hospital indicate that the MRI department has been struggling with a film supply shortage for over a month. A senior hospital official stated, “We’ve been trying to expedite film supply. We hope to resolve this within days.”

The hospital operates with only one MRI machine, leading to overwhelming patient demand and contributing to the backlog. Officials warn that the situation highlights persistent infrastructure and resource challenges in public healthcare facilities.

The ongoing suspension of outpatient MRI and CT scan services at Lok Nayak Hospital highlights critical gaps in public healthcare infrastructure. Patients are facing appointments as far ahead as 2028, leaving many without timely access to essential diagnostics.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) offer a potential solution by combining the efficiency and resources of the private sector with the accessibility of public hospitals.

Through PPPs, hospitals can procure advanced imaging equipment, ensure regular maintenance, and reduce patient backlogs. Implementing such collaborative models at LNH could help restore timely, equitable diagnostic services for all patients. ¹

References:

1. Unnikrishnan, Bhaskaran, Gurpur Guni Laxman Prabhu, Potti Laxminarayana Gangadhara Rao, and Nithin Kumar. "Public–Private Partnership Model in Delivering Quality Health Care and Medical Education: An Enduring Success Story for the Past Seven Decades." Indian Journal of Community Medicine 49, no. 6 (2024): 786–790. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11633277/

(Rh/Eth/ARC/MSM)