Koraput: Patients from Koraput and neighbouring districts will no longer have to travel to Visakhapatnam, Jagdalpur or Bhubaneswar for specialised upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy, with the district headquarters hospital in Jeypore commissioning an advanced endoscopy machine on Wednesday.The facility was inaugurated by Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati in the presence of collector (Koraput) Manoj Satyawan Mahajan, senior health officials and doctors.The state-of-the-art machine is expected to significantly strengthen gastro-intestinal diagnostic services in the tribal-dominated district by providing advanced endoscopic examinations locally, reducing both the cost and inconvenience for patients.“With this facility, patients requiring upper GI endoscopy can now undergo examinations of the oesophagus, stomach and the upper part of the small intestine at Jeypore DHH itself. Earlier, they had to travel to Visakhapatnam, Jagdalpur or Bhubaneswar for the procedure, resulting in additional expenses, delays in diagnosis and hardship for patients as well as their attendants,” said Akshay Rath, superintendent of DHH, Jeypore.Addressing the gathering, Bahinipati said the installation of the advanced endoscopy machine fulfilled a long-standing healthcare need of the people of Koraput. “People from Koraput and adjoining districts will now have access to advanced endoscopic diagnostic services within their own district. The facility will ensure early diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases while reducing the financial burden on patients and their families,” he said.Health officials said the machine would aid in the early detection and diagnosis of conditions such as gastric ulcers, acid reflux, gastrointestinal bleeding, oesophageal disorders and other diseases affecting the upper digestive tract, enabling timely treatment and improved patient outcomes.The collector described the commissioning of the endoscopy unit as another milestone in strengthening specialised healthcare services in Koraput. “This facility will enhance access to quality healthcare for people in Koraput and neighbouring districts and reduce their dependence on referral hospitals outside the district for specialised diagnostic procedures,” he said.
