Telangana has one govt MRI scanner for every 42L people: Data | Hyderabad News
HYDERABAD: Telangana’s govt hospitals have just nine MRI machines for a population of about 3.8 crore, effectively one scanner for every 42 lakh people, with 29 of the state’s 33 districts having no govt MRI facility, revealed the data tabled by the health department in the assembly.
The nine machines are spread across eight institutions in just four districts, leaving 29 of 33 districts without a govt MRI facility. Hyderabad alone has six machines — at Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, NIMS (two), TIMS Sanathnagar and MNJ Hospital. The others are at MGM Hospital, Warangal, RIMS, Adilabad, and Govt General Hospital, Jayashankar Bhupalpally.The govt has announced nine more machines for Nizamabad, Siddipet, Suryapet, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar, besides Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad and additional units at Gandhi and Osmania hospitals.Doctors and health experts, however, said expanding equipment without addressing manpower and infrastructure could limit the benefits. They pointed to nearly 50% of sanctioned posts being vacant and shortages of trained radiologists and MRI technicians.“Adding more MRI machines across Telangana’s govt hospitals is a welcome step. However, this expansion must be matched with a proportionate increase in trained radiologists, technicians and supporting staff. Machines alone cannot improve healthcare. Manpower and maintenance must grow alongside them,” said Dr Ashish Ankam, president, Telangana State Residents Doctors Association.“Adding nine more MRI machines is a welcome step, but it alone will not solve the problem. Telangana needs adequate MRI facilities across all major govt secondary and tertiary care hospitals,” said Dr Karthik Nagula, president, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association.
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