New Delhi, Oct 20 The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has approved a project to provide CT scan and MRI facilities at 20 per cent below Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates at three of its hospitals, with a private agency set to invest Rs 120 crore over a 10-year period under a public-private partnership model, officials said.
According to an official statement, the facilities will be established at Hindu Rao Hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital and the Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
The project will involve the installation of at least three 128-slice CT scan machines and three 1.5 Tesla MRI machines across the three hospitals.
The facilities are intended to improve access to advanced diagnostic services for patients seeking treatment at MCD-run hospitals, the statement read.
Standing Committee chairperson Satya Sharma said the initiative aims to make advanced medical investigations more affordable, particularly for patients from economically weaker sections.
“The aim is to provide modern healthcare facilities at affordable rates to the common citizens of Delhi. The expansion of CT scan and MRI services at these three hospitals will make advanced diagnostic facilities more accessible and help patients undergo essential medical investigations at lower costs,” Sharma said.
Under the proposed arrangement, the contracted private agency will bear the entire expenditure on installing and operating the facilities, while the MCD will provide the designated space. Ownership of the premises will remain with the civic body, the statement said.
The estimated expenditure of Rs 120 crore over the 10-year concession period includes around Rs 40 crore in capital investment for installing the machines and making other necessary arrangements, and approximately Rs 80 crore towards operational expenses.
The civic body said the project would not entail any financial burden on the MCD, with the investment and operational costs to be borne by the private agency.
The hospitals will also be equipped with a Radiology Information System/Picture Archiving and Communication System (RIS/PACS) to facilitate digital reporting and the management of diagnostic records.
The system is expected to streamline the handling of diagnostic reports and related records, alongside the introduction of the new imaging equipment.
“The implementation of this project at the three hospitals will help patients access advanced diagnostic facilities at lower rates and strengthen the Corporation’s healthcare infrastructure,” Sharma said.
The approval comes as the civic body seeks to expand diagnostic services at its hospitals while keeping costs lower for patients. However, the statement did not specify when the facilities are expected to become operational or provide the individual CT scan and MRI charges that patients will pay under the proposed arrangement.
(PTI News)
