SAMBALPUR: THE much-awaited Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine at VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla here became operational on Friday.
The service has been put into operation on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. The HLL Lifecare Limited, a private healthcare service provider, has procured the machine while VIMSAR has provided the required infrastructure and logistics for the facility. The company has appointed technical manpower for operating the machine.
VIMSAR Director Sonamali Bag said the high-powered machine will help to image soft tissue of any part of the body from any angle. Patients will be benefited and they have to pay about `4,000 for MRI scanning instead of `6,000 to `8,000 charged by private diagnostic centres, he said.
HLL Lifecare Operation Manager Rajesh Keshavan said the company had signed an MoU with the State Government to open MRI centre at VIMSAR and MKCG Medical, Berhampur where it will be made operational within four months. The 1.5 Tesla MRI scan facility, which costs `6.5 crore, will provide advanced diagnostic services to the people, he added.
Installation of an MRI machine was one of the main demands of junior doctors of VIMSAR who had undertaken agitations demanding better healthcare services.