The Government General Hospital here began operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine on Sunday.
The 1.5 Tesla MRI machine, worth ₹8.5 crore, being operated in a public private partnership (PPP) with the Pramodini Healthcare Group for a period of 10 years, is being touted as one of the most advanced model capable of producing 3-D images, MR spectroscopy and fiber track, according to the hospital officials.
As there would be no radiation from the machine, it could be used for detecting anomalies in foetuses of pregnant women, alongside performing body scans. Though the hospital would not charge patients for using the facility, the government would be paying ₹2,680 for each examination to the group and nearly 50-70 scans could be done in a day. The facility would benefit patients, who come from neighbouring districts to the hospital as well, said officials.
Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy, accompanied by Health Minister N.Md. Farooq, Rajya Sabha member T.G. Venkatesh, MLC K.E. Prabhakar, MLA S.V. Mohan Reddy and District Collector S. Satyanarayana inaugurated the facility on Sunday morning.