The erstwhile expensive diagnostic tests like the CT scan and the MRI are set to become cheaper. State-run JJ Hospital, has acquired a swanky new CT scan and MRI machine in it's radiology department. Not only is the machine high end, at par with the services available in leading private hospitals, but it is also likely to save patients from burning a hole in their pocket. The three tesla machine installed by Siemens at JJ Hospital will start meting out services to patients mostly after October 10, said officials.
The high-end contraption costs close to Rs17 crores. The state had floated a tender to acquire the new machine, few months ago for which Phillips and Siemens had bid. "We acquired the machine from Siemens as it had given the lowest quote. We intend to provide CT scans and MRI tests at a cheap rate to the patients through this service," said Dr TP Lahane.
While a CT scan may cost anywhere between Rs4,000 – Rs7,000 and an MRI may cost between Rs8,000 to Rs20,000 in private hospitals, the tests in JJ Hospital will be available at a fraction of the cost up to ten times cheaper at Rs1,800. "The scans will also include the costs for films. We will not charge any extra money," said Lahane.
The diagnostic tests will cost lower than radiology services in BMC – run hospitals like KEM, Sion and Nair, which charge Rs2,500 for tests. Apart from affordable costs, the high-end machine will reduce the amount of time taken for a scan. "A head to toe scan will be performed in 30 minutes, while in a 1.5 tesla machine, the scan takes up to 45 minutes or more," said Vivek Bharti, head, project management (western region), Siemens India.
"The high intensity noise and longer time taken for MRI or a CT scan can cause convulsions in epileptic patients. In patients with brain disorders it increases their bouts of headache," said Dr Suleman Merchant, dean, Sion Hospital.
The MRI and CT Scan tests will cost a fraction of costs at JJ Hospital. While CT scans in private hospitals cost between Rs4,000 to Rs7,000 and MRI tests cost between Rs8,000 to Rs20,000, at public hospitals like JJ and in BMC-run hospitals like KEM, Nair, and Sion, it costs between Rs1,800 to Rs2,500
The three tesla MRI/CT scan machine offers better resolution and has processes tests at three to four times the speed of the 1.5 tesla machine
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