Health Minister Inaugurates Advanced PET-CT Scan & OCT Machine in Coimbatore Govt Hospital

Minister Subramanian noted the PET-CT scan, once exclusive to private hospitals, is now accessible in government hospitals. This reflects the state government's dedication to deploying advanced technologies for better medical care under the chief minister's health insurance scheme.

Health Minister Ma Subramanian inaugurated a state-of-the-art PET-CT scan machine worth 12 Cr at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) to enhance the accurate identification of cancer cells in patients.

Additionally, an optical coherence tomography (OCT) machine was inaugurated in the cardiology department at CMCH and installed at a cost of 1.5 Cr.

Minister Subramanian emphasised that the PET-CT scan facility was once exclusive to private hospitals. He said, “The state government is now providing the PET-CT scan facility in government hospitals as well. New technologies like this are being adopted to provide better medical care for common people under the chief minister's health insurance scheme."

Established earlier, the Cath Lab at CMCH has recorded an impressive 10,000 angio procedures in five years, contributing significantly to saving lives, according to the health minister.

Providing an update on the construction funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at CMCH, Subramanian mentioned that the work on the buildings is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by December. Following the construction, immediate steps will be taken to install medical equipment and beds.

Addressing the progress of urban health and wellness centres, Subramanian reported that 500 out of the proposed 708 centres were completed in the first phase, with 72 allocated for Coimbatore. The chief minister carried out the first phase of the inauguration, including 49 centres in Coimbatore.

The minister further inaugurated advanced gadgets in the pediatric ward of the Mettupalayam government hospital and the Siddha and naturopathy division at the Somanur primary health centre in the district.

In a separate event at the GEM Hospital, Subramanian celebrated the institution's 20 years of excellence in bariatric surgery. He commended the hospital for its leadership in gastroenterology and laparoscopy, highlighting the successful performance of over 250 bariatric surgeries free of cost under the chief minister's insurance scheme.

During the event, Minister Subramanian also launched the Department of Obesity Cure and Diabetes Cure at the hospital. This multidisciplinary department aims to provide holistic treatment for obesity and reverse diabetes without the need for medicines or surgery. The initiative aligns with the hospital's commitment to advancing healthcare solutions in these critical areas.

In a similar development, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital installed a state-of-the-art Biograph 64, Vision 600 - PET CT scanner in September this year. With this instalment, the hospital becomes the first-ever health facility in the region to offer access to the latest digital PET/CT imaging technology.

Further solidifying its position in the healthcare industry, the move aligns with the hospital's aim to battle against cancer with early detection of malignancies and other lesions.