CT scanner prices kick up row

On the other hand, government hospitals had acquired CT scan machines at an average price of Rs 4 crore and MRI machines at Rs 7 crore.

Walia sought a CBI inquiry into the issue while the rest of the Opposition pressed for a House committee. When both demands were rejected, the entire Opposition staged a walkout in protest.

Walia said: quot;The CT scanner for Swami Dayanand Hospital was bought for Rs 5 crore, the machines for LNJP and Guru Teg Bahadur hospitals for Rs 4 crore each. While the scanner for Swami Dayanand Hospital was bought in 1993, it was not made use of before 1995. During this time, if one includes interest and operation costs, the price of the machines goes up toRs 10 crore.quot;If each machine scanned an average of 300 patients in the government hospitals, the cost of each scan should work out to approximately Rs 3,000 each, said Walia. On the other hand a private clinic charges a mere Rs 1,200.

quot;Why should our government incur such huge losses,quot; he said. He also felt that for the price of one scanner the government could have easily bought two scanners, thereby helping the public.

He also presented quotations passed in Jammu and Simla for the CT scanner which quoted a price of Rs 3 crore. quot;Usually, after negotiation, the prices fall by about 10 per cent. So why are these machines so expensive in Delhi?quot; he demanded. In his reply, Delhi Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said: quot;I do not mind if there is an inquiry into the deal for the simple reason that proper procedure was followed by medical experts in selecting the machines.quot;

He also denied having said that the MRI machines may cost Rs 7 crore. quot;Even the tenders have not been invited, so, how can we say how muchthey might cost?8217;