KARACHI: In a new outlook of Pakistan’s possible future healthcare crisis, a shortage of X-ray films has been predicted as a result of the import ban in the country.
Since commercial banks are unable to open LC’s (Letters of Credit) for the import of X-ray films, the shortage is bound to take place unless hospitals, institutions and medical and dental practices are allowed to stock up on radiographic films that are a pivotal part of diagnostic procedures.
A limited stock of these films are present in the hospitals and practices around the country, which healthcare workers assume to be an alarming state of affairs, since these films are used in CT scans as well as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
According to a representative of Fujifilm, a supplier of X ray films in the country “The industry has only 20 - 30 days of stock left and after that, hospitals will run short of films and diagnoses will become impossible then.” He said.
“Around a month’s stock was stuck at the ports or high seas, which should be cleared at the earliest” he added.
