Koya without CT scanner for two years

KOYA – The CT scanner at Dr. Majid Center for Radiology in Koya district has been out of service for two years, forcing residents to travel to Raniya or Erbil for necessary scans that require lengthy journeys and significant financial outlay.

Koya district lies approximately 70km southeast of Kurdistan Region’s capital, Erbil.

Erdelan Resoul, a Koya resident, lamented the absence of a functional CT scanner in the district. “For just one scan, we must make a dangerous and long trip. It’s financially draining,” Resoul told 964media.

The issue surrounding the CT scanner in Koya reflects the broader challenges faced by Kurdistan’s health sector, which has been confronting financial hardships for the last decade.

Hawkar Ali, spokesperson for the Koya Health Department, explained that the department’s sole CT scanner ceased operation two years ago due to aging and wear.

Despite attempts to repair it, the machine could not be restored to working order. “We have submitted a request to the Ministry of Finance for a new device, but the high cost, over $600,000, has delayed approval,” Ali said.