Berhampur: Health minister Pratap Jena on Tuesday inaugurated a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine in the radio-diagnostic department of MKCG Medical College and Hospital here.
"The Rs 10-crore machine will provide services to indoor and outdoor patients of the hospital free of cost. The brain scan that costs Rs 6,000 in private diagnostic centres, will be completely free of cost for our patients," said MKCG principal Radha Madhab Tripathy.
One MRI unit had been running in the MKCG in the public-private participation mode since 2016. While the MKCG authorities provided the infrastructure, an organisation named Hind Labs Limited (HLL) provided the machine and technicians. The HLL had procured the machine from Japan. After setting up of the MRI centre, 15 to 20 patients used to benefit every day. Earlier, the MKCG MRI unit used to charge Rs 4,000 for a person.
But in November last year there was as short circuit in course of some electrical repair works, and the machine got damaged. Later, two technicians from Japan had inspected it and said it had to be replaced, official sources said.
"We have started standardisation of the new MRI machine since Tuesday night, and it would work systematically within few days, said the principal. "Though the MRI unit, equipped with the new machine, would run in the PPP mode, no charges would be imposed on the hospital patients." "Jena also assured us of fulfilling our demands, including introduction of mobile van service from casualty to the indoor wards, Wi-Fi service on the campus and opening up of the e-library," said students' union president Bismay Samal.
The Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch, which is spearheading agitation for better health care at MKCG, has demanded immediate installation of the CT scan and digital X-ray machines.
The Sardar Ballav Bhai Patel Bahumukhi Sangha, led by Ram Kumar Patra, has demanded availability of all types of medicines in the Niramaya couunter, appointment of an IAS officer as the administrative officer, adequate doctors and technicians at the MKCG.
