Delhi govt to provide free MRI scans

In a major step for providing relief to financially weaker residents of the national Capital, the city government on Tuesday decided that patients undergoing treatment at 10 identified Delhi government hospitals will be provided free MRI/CT scan in ‘top’ seven private labs here.

The patients with an annual family income of less than Rs 3 lakh and who are bonafide residents of the city for a minimum period of three years are eligible for it. 

“This will cover over 95 per cent of the population of Delhi... The scheme has already started from December 1,” Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain told the media.

Asked about the financial implications, Jain said the money saved from the timely construction of flyovers would be used to fund the scheme.

The decision has been taken in view of the long dates being given for MRI/CT scan in Delhi government hospitals, particularly the GB Pant Hospital and patients being made to wait for their turn up to three years in some cases due to piling up of demand.

The hospitals identified under the scheme comprises, GB Pant Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital, Dr BSA Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital, Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences, Delhi State Cancer Institute and Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya.

Eligible patients can avail the benefit from National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare (NABH) accredited MRI/CT scan labs after being referred by the Medical Superintendent or Nodal Officer of the aforementioned hospitals. These labs included Dr Anand’s Imaging Centre, Dr Gulati Imaging Institute, Focus Imaging & Research Centre, Ganesh Diagnostics & Imaging Centre, Mahajan Imaging Pvt Ltd, Platinum Imaging Centre and Saral Advanced Diagnostics Private Limited. 

The decision was taken during Arogya Kosh’s 11th Governing Body meeting chaired by Satyendar Jain. 

“As per Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s instructions, we have decided to use the money saved from early construction of flyovers to provide free medicines and medical tests for patients,” Jain said.

According to the Delhi government, over Rs 350 crore have been saved by building flyovers in Delhi at much below the sanctioned budget.

The scheme entitles the eligible patients, referred from the identified Delhi Government hospitals, to avail cashless MRI/CT scan facility from such centres run under PPP mode in Central government Hospitals and in Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. The resolution for the scheme was introduced by Jain himself.

“This facility shall substantially decrease a load of MRI/ CT scan in Delhi Government Hospitals and, consequently, shorten the waiting list for MRI/ CT scan for patients undergoing treatment therein,” government said in a statement.

“Moreover, through this scheme, facility of MRI/CT scan would be extended to even those identified hospitals, where presently the facilities are either unavailable or overloaded. This will help in providing timely and prompt treatment to all patients in general and patients belonging to EWS category in particular,” the statement added.