Procure MRI, CT scan machines, Himachal told

Vijay Arora

Shimla, February 26

The HP High Court today directed the state government to take requisite steps for procuring MRI/CT scan machines for Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, Kangra, within eight weeks.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice L Narayana Swamy and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua passed this order while disposing of a petition taken up suo motu by the court on news published in some Hindi dailies regarding the non-functional MRI machine at the IGMC, Shimla.

It was reported that the machine needed repairs time and again, due to which patients were being referred to the PGI for MRI.

The court, in its earlier orders, had directed the state to file a status report with regard to the installation of MRI machines at both hospitals and the functioning of the CT scan machine at the IGMC.

In compliance with the orders, the state government had filed a report stating that the MRI machine and CT scan machine at the IGMC and the MRI machine at the Tanda hospital were working properly and the proposal of an additional amount of Rs 20 crore for the procurement of new MRI machine at the IGMC had already been examined in consultation with the Planning Department, which had indicated to carry out the work in the 2020-21 financial year.

The status report points out that for the procurement of the CT scan machine at the IGMC, a re-tender had been prepared which would be uploaded by the department concerned on the state e-tendering website as the earlier tender saw participation by only one firm in the bidding process.

It was disclosed in the report that for the Tanda hospital, a new MRI Machine was being procured for which the e-tender had already been invited by the department concerned and the technical bid for the same was due to be opened on March 7.

In view of the above status report, the court, while disposing of the petition, directed the state government to act as per the undertaking in the status report for procuring the machines.

Eight weeks’ time given

• The HC passed this order while disposing of a petition taken up suo motu by the court based on news reports regarding the non-functional MRI machine at the IGMC, Shimla.
• The state has been told to get MRI/CT scan machines for Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Shimla, and Dr Rajinder Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, within eight weeks

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