The only X-ray machine in the government-run Chest Disease Clinic and Hospital (CDCH) at Bhajondanga in Faridpur town has remained inoperative for seven years, much to the suffering of the patients.

A source at CDCH said the X-ray machine was given to the hospital in 2009 and was installed in 2015, but it has not come into operation as yet. As it is inoperative, patients have to pay more for getting their X-rays done outside.

Pharmacist Md Yunus Ali Mia said that GeneXpert machine and a generator have also remained inoperative for long.

Medical Officer Dr Tania Jasmine said arrangements for other essential tests like blood, ultra-sonogram, etc are also absent, and only cough is examined there. The patients are advised to get other necessary tests done from outside, she added.

"On an average, 300 patients take outdoor treatment at the clinic every month. But for lack of test facilities, we cannot provide due services to them," she added.

Senior staff-nurse Rokeya Begum said poor patients come from different places for treatment of TB and other chest diseases, but they do not get proper treatment for the lack of a consultant.

 Civil Surgeon of Faridpur Arun Kanti Biswas said the maintenance period of the X-ray machine has expired, and they have informed the higher authorities about the matter.

The operating cost of the generator is too high, so it has remained inoperative, he added.