The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has formulated a plan to establish advanced CT scan and MRI facilities at three of its major hospitals through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The hospitals identified are Hindu Rao Hospital in central Delhi, Swami Dayanand Hospital in east Delhi, and Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis in north Delhi. The services will be offered at regulated rates linked to the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) standards.
Rising Demand for Radiology Services
Over the past two years, these three hospitals have collectively recorded more than 30 lakh outpatient department (OPD) visits and approximately 1.3 lakh inpatient department (IPD) admissions. This steady increase in patient footfall underscores the growing need for advanced radiology services within the MCD healthcare system.
Proposal Origin and Feasibility
The initiative was triggered after Swami Dayanand Hospital sought approval for an integrated imaging centre equipped with CT and MRI facilities. Subsequent site inspections confirmed that adequate space is available at all three hospitals to set up modern imaging centres without requiring additional construction.
Key Features of the PPP Model
- Private partners will invest in, procure, install, and operate 128-slice CT scanners and 1.5 Tesla MRI systems.
- The MCD will not provide any financial support for the equipment or its operation.
- Services will be offered at regulated CGHS-linked rates, ensuring affordability for economically weaker patients.
Addressing Financial Hardship
An MCD official stated, "It was found that many economically weaker patients visiting MCD hospitals are compelled to undergo expensive CT and MRI investigations at private diagnostic centres, leading to financial hardship. The proposed project aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure by making affordable CT and MRI services available within MCD hospitals at regulated CGHS-linked rates."
Cluster-Based Model for Efficiency
To improve operational viability and ensure standardised service delivery, the MCD has also proposed a cluster-based model covering all three hospitals. This approach is expected to streamline operations and maintain consistent quality across the facilities.
The initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing diagnostic capabilities in MCD hospitals, particularly for patients from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who often struggle to afford high-cost medical investigations.
