Imported X-ray/Scan machines posing Health hazards

I am writing this blog on the basis of a news which I got about the serious health hazards due to the usage of imported X-ray machines having expired tubes.

People who go in for a CT scan or X-ray at hospitals and diagnostic centres are at serious radiation risk as most medical institutions in Kerala use junk X-ray tubes and CT scan machines discarded by Europe and the US.

People should aware that the Radiation devices, mainly X-ray tubes, whose five year life term has expired, are being imported to Kerala from United States and Europe in large number. Such devices cause serious health hazards.  It is said that the preliminary probes have revealed that the majority of imported devices are banned in the US and Europe due to high radiation risk. Some of the serious health hazards are:-

*Over exposure to X-ray radiation will cause swelling that turns into blisters.

*In the extreme cases, skin grafts or amputation may be required.

*Radiation will cause sterility in both men and women.

*Exposure of pregnant women to radiation will cause congenital deformity to foetus.

*Exposure to X-ray radiation increases risk of cancer.

The above informations were shocking to me. People who got prescriptions for X-ray or Scan from a doctor are not aware that they are going to get another serious health problems in addition to the existing disease, after the completion of X-ray/Scan. 

The hospital owners and owners of various other X-ray/Scan diagnostic institutions are concentrating only to their profits which they are getting by way of providing cheap quality machines imported from European Countries and US. These type of machines may be cheaper in the above countries. This may be the reason for purchasing these cheap quality products. 

Some institutions in Kerala are being offered various types of commissions by way of cash or other gifts to the Doctors who refer the patients to a particular institution. This offers some times may led some doctors to prescribe X-ray/Scan, even there is no actual requirement to the patients. They are not bothered about various health hazards which can be affected to the people due to X-ray/Scan. 

My humble request to all the doctors, not to prescribe X-ray/Scan, if the patient don't need to do the same. The authorities should also ensure to control import of this type of cheap quality machines, people in Kerala will face more health hazards, in future.