New CT scanner at Government Hospital in Tiruchi

Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar on Saturday hoped that the Central government would soon announce the formation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the State.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a 16-slice Computed Tomography (CT) scanner at K.A.P. Viswanatham Medical College here, he said that the State government had sent all information including available space, neighbouring medical colleges from the proposed sites, railway station, airport and others through the district Collectors as asked by the Union Health Ministry. He said that he had met the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J. P. Nadda a few days ago in New Delhi and impressed upon him to announce AIIMS location immediately. Mr. Nadda has promised to announce this soon, the Minister said.

Mr. Vijaya Baskar said the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation had acquired 54 modern CT scans and 16 MRI scans for various hospitals in the State. They have been installed at various hospitals simultaneously. Each CT scan would cost about Rs. 1.8 crore. The scanner could pinpoint the exact location of the disease and the extent of damage in a more accurate manner within 5 minutes. Scanning of body parts such as brain, pulmonary, upper limbs, lower limbs, cortical and renal could be done at nominal rates.

The scan was four times more advanced than the old CT scanner.

The new scanner could take the image of specific parts within a few minutes thereby reducing turnout time for patients.

The Minister said that the State had set up Regional Cancer Centres at four places including Coimbatore and Madurai at an estimate of Rs. 15 crore each. Steps would be taken to set up a similar centre in Tiruchi soon.

Vellamandi N. Natarajan, Tourism Minister, S. Valarmathi, Minister for Backward Classes and Minority Welfare, P. Kumar, Member of Parliament, K. Rajamani, Collector, and Anitha, Dean, K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College were present.

More funds

On Friday, while talking to reporters after inaugurating ‘Tamil Saaral -18’ event held at the Agricultural College and Research Institute at Kudumiyanmalai in Pudukottai district, Mr. Vijaya Baskar said a sum of Rs. 11,638.44 crore has been allocated to the health sector in the Budget.

He added that this was Rs. 1,480 crore more when compared to last year.

Mr. Vijaya Baskar said a State Blood Policy and Implementation Frame Work has been drawn up by the State government.

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