Kochi: GMC Ernakulam gets Rs 5 crore for CT, MRI machines

Kochi: In a commendable initiative, MLA John Fernandez is reported to have announced to give GMC Ernakulam, Rs 5 crore from his assets development fund. He has decided to transfer the money into the hospital’s kitty for procurement of computed tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners. Similar offers are coming from many PSUs which have offered financial support as part of upgradation plans of the college hospital.

Besides the development of radiology, the hospital authorities also plans to upgrade hospital standards through increasing of dialysis machine numbers from six to twenty; starting of a super-speciality block, a palliative care unit and pay wards. The funds for the same are to come from the peoples' representative funding or facilitation of financial support from CSR funds.

Fernandez’s acts of generosity has been followed by public undertakings(PSU’s) and semi government firms coming forward to offer financial support running into crores,

Installation of CT and MRI scans through MLA funds are bound to lower costs to patients substantially;CT and MRI scans ate to cost Rs. 1800 and Rs. 7,500 respectively, as against Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 15,000, charged at private hospitals.

The hospital authorities praising the MLA for his offer, revealed that they had planned to enter into an agreement with Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL) for scanner installation. However, Principal, Dr. V.K. Sreekala, clarified, if support of this nature was forthcoming from people’s representatives, the hospital could initiate facilities of its own.

Fernandez on his part stated, he would soon initiate procedures to get the funds allotted. "I have asked the medical college authorities to submit an application in this regard. Once I get the application, I will send request to the government for releasing the fund. The funds will be directly transferred to Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL), the government agency which is entrusted to procure the equipment," he said.

The college officials were of the opinion, that college generating its own resources was a much better alternative, than seeking assistance from HLL.

"If HLL installs the scanners, they will charge up to Rs 3,000 for a CT scan. If we start the facility on our own, we will be able to do the scans at Rs 1,500-1,800," said a medical College official .

Some public sector undertakings have offered to take on the rest of the funding using their corporate social responsibility funds, for procurement and installation of scanners, which are to cost between 10 and 15 crores.

The up gradation plan of the hospital is supposed to be completed in a period of two years. The proposal for the same is to be submitted to the Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, at the convocation ceremony of the 2010-11 MBBS batch.

The hospital also has an offer from a well known Kochi firm for undertaking the construction of a ten story building, housing the palliative care and pay wards. State approval is awaited for the same.

The super-speciality block of the hospital is meant to house operation theatres of cardiology, gastroenterology and neurology.