Sangsad Bhaban, June 25 -- Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Thursday told Parliament that nearly 880 X-ray and ultrasound machines at upazila-level public hospitals across the country are lying out of order, hampering diagnostic services for patients.

Responding to a question from Jamaat-e-Islami MP for Chattogram-15 Shahjahan Chowdhury, the minister said around 485 X-ray machines in 310 hospitals and about 395 ultrasound machines in 252 hospitals are currently non-functional.

The question also sought information on shortages of doctors, nurses and medicines at upazila health complexes, the number of inoperative diagnostic machines and the main reasons for referring rural patients to urban hospitals.

According to the minis...