MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 13: The residents of the capital will shortly have the facility of CT scan in their city, as a private firm has signed an agreement with the AJK government to install the much-required medical equipment, an official said here on Wednesday.

The patients, who were earlier required to have CT scan, had to be rushed to Islamabad or Abbottabad, which would cost them too much due to travelling and other related expenses, besides heavy charges of the test.

However, according to Col Shabbir Ahmed, commanding officer of the CMH, Muzaffarabad, now the patients would not only be able to save the travelling and other related expenses, but the charges of the test would also be considerably less than what are being received in big cities.

Briefing a team of reporters at the newly-constructed 100- bedded block of the CMH, Col Ahmed said the private firm would be provided space in the new block of the hospital for the installation of the CT scan machine without any rent.

However, the firm would have to pay the electricity bill and it would also be responsible for the maintenance and the salaries of its staff, he added.

The new block of the CMH, which has been constructed at a cost of over Rs50 million, will become operational within a month and it has been declared as surgery wing. The CO said the government employees who were entitled to free treatment would be given 25 per cent rebate.