RIMS Ranchi's MRI Services Resume After Three-Year Hiatus
In a significant development for healthcare in Jharkhand, the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi is set to resume its MRI testing services after remaining non-functional for nearly three years. The facility, which had been inactive since early 2022 due to technical issues with the previous machine, will become fully operational for patients from the last week of November.
State-of-the-Art Installation and Enhanced Capabilities
Hospital authorities have confirmed that the new MRI machine worth Rs 27 crore has arrived at the institute and installation work is currently underway on the ground floor of the Regional Eye Institute (RIO) building. The installation process has reached its final stages, following which trial runs and calibration will be conducted before making the machine available for public use.
According to RIMS superintendent Dr. Hirendra Birua, the new system will generate digital reports, enabling doctors to access scan results through a dedicated online portal. This advanced technology meets international diagnostic standards and allows for microscopic-level scanning of critical internal organs including the brain, spine, joints, heart, and blood vessels.
Expanded Capacity and Affordable Healthcare
The hospital administration has outlined a phased approach to service rollout. Initially, 40 to 50 patients will be tested daily, with plans to gradually increase capacity to 100 patients per day once a second MRI machine is installed. The tender for the second machine, a Siemens model, has already been finalized, and it will be installed in the old building to ensure uninterrupted diagnostic services.
Medical experts emphasize that MRI technology provides more accurate results compared to X-rays or CT scans, playing a crucial role in diagnosing serious conditions such as brain tumors, spinal injuries, strokes, nerve disorders, and various cancers.
In a major relief for patients, RIMS will maintain affordable testing charges with normal and contrast MRI tests priced between Rs 3,500 and Rs 5,000 - significantly lower than the Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000 range charged by private diagnostic centers. Furthermore, the service will be completely free of cost for patients from economically weaker sections, providing substantial financial relief to hundreds of individuals who had been forced to seek expensive alternatives during the three-year service suspension.
