Srinagar, Jun 16 (KNO): Hundreds of patients suffering from chronic respiratory ailments across Kashmir are facing delays in diagnosis, interruptions in treatment planning, and additional financial burden due to the unavailability of the Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) test at the Chest Diseases (CD) Hospital, Srinagar, the Valley's premier tertiary-care respiratory healthcare institution.
The DLCO test is a specialised investigation used to assess how efficiently oxygen passes from the lungs into the bloodstream, playing a critical role in diagnosing and monitoring serious respiratory illnesses, including Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), pulmonary fibrosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pulmonary hypertension, post-COVID lung complications, and various other chronic lung disorders. The test is also frequently advised before major surgeries to evaluate a patient's respiratory fitness.
However, the facility has remained unavailable at CD Hospital for several months after the DLCO machine developed a technical fault. As a result, patients requiring the test are being forced either to seek services at private diagnostic centres or wait for the facility to become functional again.
The situation has placed a significant burden on economically weaker patients. While the test is available at government institutions for around Rs 500, private diagnostic centres charge nearly Rs 2,000 for the same investigation. For patients requiring repeated testing to monitor disease progression and treatment response, the additional expenditure has become a major concern.
Hospital officials, speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), acknowledged that the existing DLCO equipment has been facing recurrent technical problems and is presently out of service, and the institution urgently requires a replacement or upgraded machine to ensure uninterrupted diagnostic services.
The CD Hospital has a history of equipment and infrastructure deficiencies. Reports from 2025 indicated that key diagnostic tools, including Pulmonary Function Test machines, allergy testing systems, bronchoscopes, and Endobronchial Ultrasound setups, had been lying non-functional for months, severely hampering investigations. The hospital also lacks a functional lift, forcing elderly and breathless patients to climb steep pathways and staircases.
Sources further pointed to several infrastructural deficiencies, including the absence of a Biosafety Level (BSL) laboratory and shortages of certain specialised equipment required for operating theatres.
Adding to the concerns, the hospital's CT scan facility has remained non-functional since February this year. The closure has compelled patients to seek CT imaging either at private diagnostic centres or at other government hospitals such as SMHS Hospital.
Patients alleged that obtaining CT scan appointments at SMHS often involves long waiting periods extending over several weeks or even months, delaying investigations critical for diagnosing and monitoring serious lung conditions.
The problem is particularly acute for critically ill patients admitted to the hospital. Sources said that while some stable patients can be transported outside for CT scans, those on ventilator support face immense difficulties, as shifting them to another facility is often risky and medically challenging.
Patients and attendants have also raised concerns regarding confusion over the relocation of Out-Patient Department (OPD) services. Despite official announcements that OPD services have been shifted to the old GB Pant Hospital building at Sonwar, services continue to function from the old CD Hospital premises, causing inconvenience and uncertainty among visitors.
A patient from north Kashmir, currently undergoing evaluation for persistent breathlessness and suspected Interstitial Lung Disease, told KNO that doctors had advised him to undergo the DLCO test as part of his diagnostic work-up. However, after depositing the prescribed fee, he was informed that the machine was not operational.
"I paid the fee after being advised to undergo the test, but later I was told that the machine was not working. I was asked to visit a private diagnostic centre if I wanted the test urgently," he said.
Other patients undergoing long-term treatment for respiratory disorders shared similar experiences, saying that while routine pulmonary function testing is available, advanced diffusion studies remain inaccessible at the Valley's leading respiratory care centre.
A senior doctor, requesting anonymity, said the absence of DLCO testing hampers the comprehensive evaluation of several respiratory diseases.
Health experts said the demand for advanced respiratory diagnostic facilities has increased considerably in recent years due to rising cases of chronic lung diseases, smoking-related illnesses, environmental pollution, deteriorating air quality, and post-infectious respiratory complications. They said uninterrupted availability of specialised investigations, such as DLCO testing at a tertiary-care respiratory institution, is essential for early diagnosis, accurate disease monitoring, timely treatment interventions, and reducing dependence on expensive private healthcare services.
Medical Superintendent of CD Hospital, Dr Sameena Saba, said that Pulmonary Function Tests are currently being conducted at the hospital and that operation theatre equipment is available. She also informed that the process for obtaining administrative approval for the proposed Biosafety Level laboratory is underway.
Confirming the disruption in DLCO services, Dr Saba said: "The DLCO machine has developed a technical snag and the test is presently not being conducted. Efforts are underway to rectify the issue, and the facility will be restored soon."—(KNO)