At Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) from Monday, patients can get magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests done at half the rates they pay at private facilities.

This will be a first-of-its-kind initiative in a government set-up. The facility will run under public-private partnership mode. On Sunday, the hospital conducted trials on a few patients.

"An MRI test is conducted in cases of brain haemorrhage, sciatica and road accidents. The test is also used for diagnosing coronary artery diseases and heart problems. Organs of the chest and abdomen, including the lungs, liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas and abdominal vessels can also be examined in detail with MRI scan. It is a very important diagnostic tool for emergency cases because it gives a clear picture of the inner injury. An MRI test is conducted when CT scan fails to ascertain the level of inner injury," said PMCH superintendent Lakhendra Prasad.

He added that earlier the hospital was forced to ask its emergency patients to undergo the test at private facilities and the patient's family used to end up paying extra money.

"At PMCH, the test will be available at half the rate of private diagnostic facilities, which charge something between Rs 5,000 and Rs 9,000 depending on the organ that has to be tested. It will bring a much-needed relief to the patients' families," added Prasad.

He said the facility will be available at the hospital 24x7. "People undergoing treatment at private health facilities can also get their MRI tests done at the PMCH," he said.