KARACHI, Oct 2: The National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi has procured a Rs57 million MRI machine and plans to make it operational soon after Eid.
NICH Director Prof Afroze Ramzan on Monday said that the much needed diagnostic facility, purchased with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health, was currently in the installation process.
“This was one of the most needed diagnostic gadgets for our hospital as almost 10 to 15 per cent of the NICH's 300 admitted patients require undergoing the relevant process on a daily basis,” she said.
Dr Ramzan claimed that with the installation of this MRI machine, the NICH would be the first government hospital in the province to have the facility, envisaged to be provided free of charge to needy patients.
To another question, she said once the gadget was installed and its capacity was adequately realised against the backdrop of patients' load, the NICH might offer this to child patients referred from other hospitals at 20 to 25 per cent reduced costs — as compared to what was charged in private sector.
“This facility will be free of charge for all the in-patients of the NICH,” Dr Ramzan said.
She clarified that the possibility to offer this to patients other than the NICHs’ had not yet been discussed with the government as the NICH administration itself was not sure whether this could be viable or not.
“This, however, could be an option to meet the recurring expenditures,” NICH director informed.
Dr Ramzan said that cabling and fitting of the gadget was presently under way complimented by construction of a full-fledged MRI suite, with provision for waiting room, changing room, nursing/technicians' counter and MRI room.
She also informed that the NICH under its ongoing expansion plan would acquire a pathology and pulmonology unit along with an upgraded telephone exchange in the next two years.
“PC-1 for these projects have been approved and we have also received 25 per cent of the total amount, Rs100 million, allocated for these projects,” she said.
The NICH director said that new and updated pathology lab was part of the scheme, which was extremely relevant as pathology was the backbone for diagnosis.
We would then be able to do PCR (genetic diagnosis), assays, hormonal tests and also those extremely essential for rota virus besides several other relevant and important assessments, she elaborated.
With regard to availability of qualified man power to run the facility, she said that the NICH already had two MPhils in pathology while one more is about to complete her degree programme.
According to her, there was also no dearth of technicians and that 15 additional posts would be created in the pathology department once the pathology unit was developed in next two years.—APP
