Sambalpur   : Though medical equipment of VSS Medical in Burla is gathering dust in absence of maintenance, it will soon be equipped with a multi-detector CT scanner giving hope to the patients for better health service. Tender has already been floated to procure the machine and coal major Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has provided the fund for the purpose.

Associate Professor of Radio Diagnosis Department Dr BB Panda said the machine is highly sophisticated and will be able to perform a range of tests on the patients in less time. Apart from the routine CT scan, tests like angiography could also be performed with the machine, he added.

Odisha Small Industries Corporation Limited (OSIC) has floated the express of interest for purchase of the multi-detector CT scanner which will cost around `4 crore.

Presently, the VSS Medical has two CT Scan machines in the Radio Diagnosis Department of which one is lying defunct since long. It has left the Department to manage patients with the lone CT Scanner with at least 40 patients turning up regularly for CT scan.

“With installation of new multi-detector CT scanner, patients can avail a whole range of radio diagnosis tests in less time and at affordable price,” Dr Panda said. The scanner allows obtaining multiple slices in a single rotation and also expands the range of performance giving more accurate diagnosis, he added.

Though the State Government had claimed to install Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the hospital on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode with Hindustan Latex Limited, which runs the multi-utility centre, it is yet to be implemented. While there is no trace of the digital x-ray machine, the Echo imaging machine of the Cardiology Department is also not functioning. Similarly, the three endoscopy machines in the hospital are gathering dust in absence of maintenance forcing patients to undergo endoscopy at private diagnostic centre paying exorbitant charges.

Source : New Indian Express