In a major boost to the poor and economically weaker sections of society, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital attached to the K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College in Tiruchi has acquired a 16-slice Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner.
The equipment, which was installed at the Department of Radiology three days ago, was among the 22 CT scanners acquired by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation for all government medical college hospitals in the State.
The new scanner has replaced the old four-slice CT scanner, which has been sent to a Government Hospital in Theni district.
G.Anitha, Dean, K.A.P. Viswanatham Medical College, told The Hindu that the CT scanner, instaled at an estimate of about ₹1.8 crore, would be a major boost to the people of the region. The scanner could pinpoint the exact location of the disease and the extent of damage in a more accurate manner. Scanning of body parts of such as brain, pulmonary, upper limbs, lower limbs, cortical and renal could be done at nominal rates.
V. Senthilvel Murugan, Head, Department of Radiology Department, said it could take the image of patients up to 0.5 milli meter level. The scan was four times more advanced than the old CT scanner. The new scanner could take the image of specific parts within a minute thereby reducing turnout time for patients. All angiograms could be done.
Reduced radiation
He said the new CT scan had provisions to reduce radiation level when screening children. The special protocol would be much helpful for children and infants in safeguarding them from radiation.
Dr. Anitha said coronary artery screening, broncoscopy and endoscopy could also be done. It would be affordable to all as only ₹500 would be charged for each part as against ₹2,500 to ₹15,000 charged by many private clinics or scan centres.
