Broken CT scanner puts death rate up

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The number of victims of traffic accidents who died of head injuries here increased by 50 percent after the CT scanner in the town's Malalayang Hospital broke down, Antara said on Monday.

The news agency quoted resident neurologist Dr. Eko Prasetyo as telling Minister of Health F.A. Moeloek during the latter's visit to the hospital on Sunday that the equipment had long stopped functioning.

"We need a CT scanner badly in order to diagnose patients, especially those with head injuries," Eko said.

There was no details available about why and when the equipment broke down, but Moeloek promised to work with the provincial health office chief to solve the problem.

The CT or CAT scanner is a medical instrument consisting of integrated X-ray and computing equipment. (swe)