There’s good news for patients awaiting Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans at major BMC hospitals. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has once again initiated the tender process to procure MRI machines. This time, four new machines will be purchased and installed at KEM, Sion, Nair, and Cooper hospitals.
Notably, the current MRI machine at Nair Hospital is outdated and frequently malfunctions. At KEM Hospital, there is only one MRI machine, and due to the overwhelming number of patients, appointments are being scheduled as late as next year. There is severe shortage of MRI facilities in BMC hospitals, as reported by Navbharat Times.
Ajay Patil, Deputy Engineer in BMC’s Central Purchase Department, confirmed that the tender process for procuring four machines has been initiated. A similar tender was floated at the end of last year but was later cancelled. Before that, BMC had tried procuring the machines through a government-recognized supplier, but the attempt was unsuccessful. If the current tender process proceeds as planned, it could bring significant relief to patients.
Cost Estimated at Rs 35 Crore
Efforts to procure new MRI machines have been ongoing for several years. According to hospital sources, the procurement process has stalled mainly due to cost concerns. A senior BMC official revealed that the specifications requested for a 3-Tesla MRI machine resulted in an estimated cost of around Rs 35 crore.
In comparison, AIIMS had procured a similar machine for approximately Rs 25–26 crore. The official had planned to purchase the machine from the same supplier as AIIMS, but the proposal was shelved following the officer’s transfer.
